The late Trevor Francis, known as the first English footballer to command a £1million transfer fee, has sparked media attention following revelations that his two sons, James and Matthew, were excluded from his inheritance. This decision, detailed in his 2019 will, has generated significant discussion about the family’s private affairs.
Prior to his passing in 2023 at the age of 69 from a heart attack at his residence in Marbella, Francis specified in his will that his sons would not receive his substantial wealth. The will cited “family differences” as the reason for this exclusion, indicating that the father-son relationships had deteriorated in the months leading up to his passing. According to The Sun, the will explicitly stated, “I wish to make it clear in this my will that I have not included my children as beneficiaries due to the fact that we have become estranged following family differences over the last several months.” Furthermore, it was noted in the will that the sons were not financially dependent on him, which may have influenced his decision.
In his place, the footballer designated his brother Ian and sister Carolyn as the beneficiaries of his impressive £1.9million estate, leaving his sons with no share of his British assets. However, the details regarding his Spanish estate, as he split his time between Marbella and the West Midlands before his demise, were not as explicitly outlined.
Despite their absence from the will, James and Matthew were present at their father’s funeral in Marbella in July 2023. The emotional gathering saw the attendance of friends and former teammates, including notable figures such as ex-Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness, who came to pay their respects to the former Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest star.
Trevor Francis, celebrated for his achievements as a footballer, particularly winning two European cups with Nottingham Forest and making over 50 senior appearances for England, received heartfelt tributes from his peers following his passing. Gary Lineker, a former England teammate, expressed his deep sadness and described Francis as a “wonderful footballer and lovely man.” Similarly, ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton mourned the loss of his “old teammate” and remembered Francis as “such a wonderful gentleman.”
The outpouring of grief and remembrances continued, with Chris Waddle, who played alongside Francis at Sheffield Wednesday, acknowledging his former colleague as a “lovely man” and a “great player.”
The news of Francis’s will and the subsequent funeral tributes has brought renewed attention to the life and legacy of the iconic footballer, whose lasting contributions to the sport continue to be honoured. As the public reflects on his remarkable career, the private matters detailed in his will remain a topic of interest and speculation.
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