Paul Merson breaks down in tears on Sky Sports as he pays emotional tribute to tragic Ugo Ehiogu

PAUL MERSON broke down in tears live on television as he gave an emotional tribute to his tragic former Aston Villa team-mate Ugo Ehiogu.

Ehiogu, who was Tottenham Under-23s coach, collapsed at the club’s training ground on Thursday and passed away in the early hours of Friday morning at the age of 44.

Merson and Ehiogu were both at Aston Villa between 1998 and 2000, and played in the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea in 2000.

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Tributes have been paid to the former England international from all over the world, but perhaps none more personal than Merson’s.

Merson told Sky Sports: “I’m still devastated, he was such a top bloke, it’s unbelievable, he was a man mountain.
“You know what… Billy Joel sings that song, ‘Only The Good Die Young.’ And that is him. He was a top player and a good friend as well.
“I talked to him recently, he was always winding me up, saying Tottenham have some good players coming through! [My thoughts] go out to his family, sorry.”

Another former Villa team-mate, Lee Hendrie, said: “Ugo was such a character, he has always been that bubbly character, he was just a great guy to have around.”
Ehiogu made 507 club appearances, scoring 26 goals and winning four England caps.

His only goal for England came in the 3-0 win over Spain at Villa Park in 2001, which was Sven Goran Eriksson’s first game in charge of the Three Lions.