During his career as a player, Wilkins won the FA Cup with Manchester United in 1983 and the Scottish title with Rangers in 1989.

John Hollins remembers Ray . . .

I still remember the 17-year-old Ray Wilkins who came straight out of the youth team into the Chelsea first team. I can see him, the great two-footed player.

Nobody says that about him. People say “he used to sit in the middle, get it and pass it”. But it was accurate passing and it was with both feet. He could walk through games and he would be fantastic these days, putting balls through for the strikers.

I was captain when Ray broke into the first team, but the manager, Eddie McCreadie, decided that, aged 28, I was too old and sold me at the end of Ray’s first season to Queens Park Rangers. Eddie wanted to create a team of Chelsea babes and I knew before I left that Ray was going to take over the captaincy from me. When I left, I said to him “just give a few people a bit of stick in there, don’t take it all on your shoulders”. He did, but in the proper way – not all this screaming and shouting.

He was such a lovely boy, but mature. As a young lad, his dad told him “whatever happens, just keep playing. If you get knocked over, get back up and do your job”. It seemed he took that throughout his career and his life. I went out to Italy and saw Ray when he was at AC Milan and we were then together again at QPR when he was player-manager and I was reserve team manager.

I only saw Ray a few weeks ago at Stamford Bridge, so the shock of losing him is massive, absolutely massive. As a player he was top drawer and he was an even better man.

Tributes pour in

Greg Clarke, chairman of the Football Association, said: "I am deeply saddened to hear this news. Ray Wilkins was a warm and kind-hearted man, who always had time for others. Through his broadcast work later in life he shared his love and knowledge of the game with millions of football fans.

"Before then of course he was a wonderful player who made 84 appearances for England over 10 years, captaining the team on 10 occasions. His lifelong commitment to the national team also saw him work with our Under-21s as part of his successful coaching career.

"He played for a number of top clubs including Chelsea, where he will always be most closely associated, Manchester United and AC Milan. Such a career underlined his ability as one of the finest midfielders of his generation. Ray will be much missed and my thoughts are with his wife Jackie, family and friends."