Cameroonian international Marc-Vivien Foe, 28, died while playing for his country at the 2003 Confederations Cup. Cameroon were, at the time, playing Colombia for a place in the tournament's finals. He died on June 26, 2003.Reuters
Cameroonian international Marc-Vivien Foe, 28, died while playing for his country at the 2003 Confederations Cup. Cameroon were, at the time, playing Colombia for a place in the tournament's finals. He died on June 26, 2003.ReutersA popular Spanish footballer, Daniel Jarque, 26, died on Aug. 8, 2009, during a routine training session with his club - RCD Espanyol. Jarque was adored by his club's fans and had only just taken the captain's armband, at the start of the season, from another club legend, Raul Tamudo.ReutersPerhaps the most shocking tragedy to hit Spanish football, Sevilla FC full-back, Antonio Puerta, 22, collapsed 35 minutes into his club's first league game of the season. He died in hospital after several cardiac arrests. An autopsy revealed arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.ReutersFormer Japanese international Naoki Matsuda, 34, collapsed during training on Aug. 2, 2011, after finishing a 15-minute warm-up run. He was declared dead two days later, of a cardiac arrest.ReutersNigerian-born Bobsam Elejiko, 30, spent most of his playing career in Belgium. He died, on Nov. 13, 2011, while playing a 5th tier match for K. Merksem S.C. against F.C. Exc. Kaart.Facebook
We are seldom surprised to hear of people dying in wars or accidents or natural disasters or police shootouts... while we cringe at the fact of death, particularly in large numbers, the fact that so many American soldiers died in Iraq or Afghanistan is usually either accepted as a part of the risk that comes with the job or is occasion to unleash a barrage of criticism on the government that happens to be in charge. Some deaths, however, are treated with a tinge of disbelief... almost as if it ought to be impossible to die when in the midst of an activity that seems so far removed from the spectre of mortality.
This may come as a surprise but to date there have been well over 75 footballers who died where they often brought pleasure and joy to their supporters... on the pitch, playing the game that was their life and the game that eventually took it.
In memory of the recently deceased former Welsh player and national team manager, who committed suicide for reasons as yet unknown, we bring you a list of footballers who died with a football at their feet...
