Former England striker Frank Worthington has died aged of 72 following a long illness.
Considered one of the great mavericks of the English game, Worthington played for over 20 clubs including Huddersfield, Leicester and Bolton during a long career that stretched from 1966 to 1991.
He won eight England caps and went on to play in America, Sweden, South Africa, Ireland and Wales, as well as for numerous non-league clubs in England.
Worthington’s family said he died peacefully in hospital in Huddersfield on Monday.
His wife Carol paid tribute to the much-loved football showman, who was once described by former Huddersfield and Bolton manager Ian Greaves as “the working man’s George Best”.
“Frank brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his private life,” she said. “He will be greatly missed by everyone who loved him so much.”
His daughter, Kim Malou, said in 2016 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but he denied those claims.
Worthington played in 22 consecutive Football League seasons from 1966 to 1987, scoring 266 goals in 882 appearances in all competitions. In 14 of those campaigns he played in the first division, scoring 150 goals in 466 matches, and won the Golden Boot award in 1978-79 as the leading scorer ahead of Kenny Dalglish and Frank Stapleton.
It was during that season that Worthingto scored one of the defining goals of his career against Ipswich, when he juggled the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area before turning, flicking the ball over the onrushing defenders and volleying low into the corner.
He made all eight of his England appearances in 1974, scoring in friendlies against Bulgaria and Argentina.
But Worthington was known as much for his flamboyant antics off the pitch as he was for his maverick talents on it.
After his playing career he had a spell as player-manager of Tranmere and became an after-dinner speaker. He also released an autobiography, One Hump or Two, which contained entertaining accounts from his playing days, as well as stories about his life off the pitch.
Former Leicester striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker paid tribute to Worthington, tweeting: “Profoundly saddened to hear that Frank Worthington has died.
“He was my boyhood hero when he was at LCFC. A beautiful footballer, a maverick and a wonderful character who was so kind to this young apprentice when he joined the club. RIP Frank.”
Ally McCoist, who played with Worthington at Sunderland, said: “What a character. There was never a dull moment. One of the most talented footballers I ever played with. I knew he was not well but it does not soften the blow. I know he is in a better place now. He was a brilliant man, a brilliant football player. I am absolutely gutted.”
Worthington’s former clubs also paid their respects on social media. Huddersfield posted: “Everyone at Huddersfield Town is devastated to hear of the passing of Town legend Frank Worthington.” Leicester and Bolton also tweeted their sadness over the passing of a “legend”.
