Graham Taylor, England, Watford and Aston Villa manager, dead at 72

Graham Taylor has passed away at the age of 72 from a suspected heart attack. The former England and Aston Villa boss enjoyed an impressive managerial career spanning over 30 years and also played for Grimsby Town and Lincoln City.

Taylor is best remembered for his spell in charge of England; despite losing just one of his first 23 games in charge of the Three Lions he failed to secure qualification to the 1994 World Cup. The Birmingham Mail reported the news of his passing this afternoon, with the cause of death currently unknown. The Football Association confirmed the news on social media.

A family statement reported by the BBC said: "With the greatest sadness, we have to announce that Graham passed away at his home early this morning of a suspected heart attack. The family are devastated by this sudden and totally unexpected loss."

Taylor enjoyed two spells in charge of Aston Villa and his success with the Midlands club earned him the opportunity of managing the national team. He is also a much-loved figure at Watford and was behind their iconic early 1980s team that featured players like John Barnes, Luther Blissett and Pat Rice and finished second in the old First Division. Aston Villa and another of Taylor's former clubs, Wolverhampton Wanderers, are set to face each other in the Championship on Saturday.

After retiring from management in 2003 Taylor assumed the role of vice-president at Scunthorpe United and also forayed into the world of punditry. In 2014 Watford named a stand at Vicarage Road after Taylor as a way of paying tribute to his two spells at the club.