Ehiogu, who was the club's under-23s coach, collapsed at Spurs' training centre yesterday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He received immediate treatment before being transferred to hospital, where he passed away in the early hours of this morning. Tottenham announced his death at 9am, saying in a statement: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Ugo Ehiogu." He leaves behind wife Gemma and their one son. Ehiogu, who played for Aston Villa and Middlesbrough and was capped by England on four occasions, joined Spurs as a coach in 2014. Spurs' head of coaching and player development John McDermott, said: "Words cannot express the sadness that we all feel at the club. Ugo's immense presence will be irreplaceable.



GETTY Ugo Ehiogu has died at the age of 44

Ugo Ehiogu in pictures Fri, April 21, 2017 Former England defender Ugo Ehiogu has died after suffering a cardiac arrest Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 7 Ugo Ehiogu has died aged 44

GETTY Ugo Ehiogu coached the Tottenham Under-23 side

"Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife Gemma and his family."



Spurs also added their thanks to the North Middlesex University Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital and Harefield Hospital.

Ehiogu began his career as a trainee at West Brom before he was taken to Villa by Ron Atkinson in 1991. He went on to feature in more than 300 matches for Villa and played in their FA Cup final defeat against Chelsea in 2000.



Ehiogu joined Middlesbrough for a then club-record £8million fee later that year, and in 2001 he scored his only goal for England in Sven Goran-Eriksson's first game in charge, a 3-0 friendly victory against Spain. Knee injuries plagued the final years of Ehiogu's career at the Riverside Stadium.



He joined Leeds on loan in 2006, and also had short spells with Rangers and Sheffield United before he retired from football in 2009.

GETTY Ugo Ehiogu won the League Cup with Aston Villa in 1994

Ehiogu's former club Villa, for whom he played more than 300 games, led the tributes following his passing, tweeting: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former defender Ugo Ehiogu. "Our thoughts are with his family at this terribly sad time."



The club added: "We will be holding a minute's applause before our derby with @BCFC...



"Both sets of players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect." The Football Association tweeted it was "devastated to hear the news" and further tributes from the governing body were expected, with England manager Gareth Southgate having played with Ehiogu for both Villa and Boro.



Lee Hendrie played with Ehiogu at Villa Park and with Sheffield United and told Sky Sports: "This is an absolute shock, to think this could happen to a man of his fitness and age. It is devastating, crazy.

GETTY Ugo Ehiogu made over 200 appearances for Aston Villa between 1991 and 2000

GETTY Ugo Ehiogu played four times for England