Tributes as former Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson dies after being Tasered by police

The death of Dalian Atkinson has been met with shock and grief across the sporting world. The 48-year-old former Aston Villa striker was Tasered by police at his home in Telford. Atkinson died at the Princess Royal Hospital after suffering cardiac arrest.

Atkinson was one of the big stars in Premier League when it was launched in 1992. He scored BBC Match of the Day's goal of the season in the inaugural campaign.

As well as Villa, Atkinson also played for English teams Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday, before moving to Spanish side Real Sociedad. He was sold to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce but was loaned to Metz in France and Manchester City. Between 1997 and his retirement in 2001 he played for clubs in Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

Former Villa manager Ron Atkinson, under whom Atkinson won the League Cup in 1994, told the Birmingham Mail: "This is an out-and-out tragedy. He was a really popular player with teammates. He was a really generous lad – sometimes too generous for his own good – but a good lad.

"He always had a smile on his face and I really like that in a player. He also had terrific ability. I always knew I didn't need to worry about him in big games."

Former Villa defender Paul McGrath said on Twitter: "Don't feel to gud [sic] at the moment , Dalian Atkinson was a huge part of the Villa family I played with lovely kid and friend R.I.P pal Xx." Mark Bosnich, who also played alongside Atkinson, described him at his peak as "one of the very best".

In a tragic coincidence, Aston Villa marked the anniversary of its first ever goal in the Premier League – which was scored by Atkinson on this day 24 years ago – with a trip down memory lane on its official website. His former clubs, ex teammates and current players have paid tribute to him across social media: