Aston Villa legendary striker Dalian Atkinson has died after being reportedly tasered by police at his home in Shropshire.
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In a statement, West Mercia Police said: “Officers responded to a report for the concern for the safety of an individual at approximately 1.30am this morning at an address in Telford”.
A 48-year-old man had died after receiving medical attention, police said.
West Mercia Police said a 48-year-old man was killed in Telford after a taser was used on him, with the individual being pronounced dead at 3am.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission will automatically investigate the incident as it involves a death at the hands of police offers.
Atkinson started his career at Ipswich Town before moving to Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored against Liverpool in November 1989 during the Reds’ first return to Hillsborough following the disaster the previous April. He had four seasons at Villa Park scoring 23 goals in 85 league games and winning the Football League Cup. The ex-Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Real Sociedad star died after allegedly being tasered by police in the early hours of Monday morning.
A journeyman centre-forward, he would go on to play in minor leagues across the world before retiring in South Korea in 2001.
He joined Real Sociedad in 1990 where he played alongside Aldridge and former Everton midfielder Kevin Richardson before returning to England with Aston Villa, who he nearly helped inspire to the inaugural Premier League title in 1992/93. The club will hold a minute’s applause in the 10th minute with Atkinson having worn the number 10 for most of his Villa career.
The goal – and the celebration with a member of the crowd holding an umbrella – became the stuff of Villa legend, long after Atkinson was sold to Fenerbahce three seasons later.
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But the club will not allow them to bring in their own due to health and safety issues.
