The description “gentleman” dominated tributes to Ray Wilkins following the death on Wednesday of the former England midfielder.

Wilkins died aged 61 in a south London hospital where he had been treated since collapsing last Friday with cardiac arrest. Terry Butcher spoke for many when he remembered his former England team-mate’s appealing amalgam of manners and competitive edge, dignity and determination.

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“I don’t know anybody that had a bad word to say about Ray – on or off the pitch,” Butcher said. “He was just an absolute gentleman but also a fierce winner. It was an absolute pleasure and a real privilege to play with him. He was such a charismatic character, great in the dressing room, great on the pitch but he wanted football played the right way.”

One of the best footballers of his generation, Wilkins won 84 caps, captaining his country 10 times. In the course of a 24-year club career he played for, most notably, Chelsea, Manchester United, Milan, Rangers and Queens Park Rangers. Retirement prompted stints managing QPR, Fulham and Jordan in addition to serving as a coach at, among others, Chelsea and, most recently, Aston Villa.

Chelsea said they were “devastated to learn of the passing of our former player, captain and assistant coach”. The club, where he had worked alongside Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti, added: “Rest in peace, Ray, you will be dreadfully missed.”

Wilkins, who leaves his wife, Jackie, their two children and six grandchildren, had endured health problems in recent years. He had also struggled with alcohol problems and spent time on a rehabilitation programme at the Priory Hospital in Surrey in 2016 following a four‑year drink-driving ban.

He emerged to return to work as a regular, and popular, football pundit on television and radio and underwent double bypass heart surgery last July.

Quick guide Ray Wilkins – his remarkable playing career in clubs Show Hide Chelsea (1973-1979)

Manchester United (1979-1984)

Milan (1984-1987)

PSG (1987)

Rangers (1987-1989)

QPR (1989-1994)

Crystal Palace (1994)

QPR (1994-1996)

Wycombe (1996)

Hibernian (1996-97)

Millwall (1997)

Leyton Orient (1997) Photograph: David Cannon/David Cannon Collection

News of his death resonated around Europe. Before Wednesday’s Milan derby, Franco Baresi, the Londoner’s former Milan team-mate, led a minute’s evocative applause and laid a bouquet of flowers and a ‘Wilkins 8’ Milan shirt in front of the famous Curva Sud stand.

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Gareth Southgate, the England manager, who briefly played with Wilkins at Crystal Palace, said: “When Ray played with us you could immediately see that his technical ability to play the ball was phenomenal. In the modern game, those attributes would have been appreciated far more than they were at that time, so he really was a top, top player.

“He would have been one of the earliest to go abroad and play in the Italian league. At the time it was at a really high level, so being able to transition into a club like AC Milan and be as popular as he was there speaks volumes for his ability. Ray was also an absolute gent – a class act.”

Sir Alex Ferguson recalled a man noted for treating everyone as equals as well as for a “fantastic talent”. The former Manchester United manager said: “Ray always had a kind word and time for people.”

Frank Lampard, the former Chelsea midfielder who was coached by Wilkins, said: “Ray was a great player and an even greater man. Full of kindness and humility, with impeccable manners at all times. He had respect and time for everyone and to me he was a mentor and a friend. I’m not sure they make them like Ray any more.”

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Gary Lineker had encountered similar traits in the younger Wilkins during their England days. “It was a pleasure to have played alongside him,” he said. “No team-mate was more helpful and supportive. I’ll be forever grateful.”

Peter Reid offered perhaps the best summation of the consensus. “Ray was an absolutely outstanding human being,” said Wilkins’s former fellow national midfielder. “Ray’s legacy would be: ‘Win, lose or draw, you’ve always got to have class.’”