FORMER England manager Graham Taylor has died at the age of 72, his family have announced. He is thought to have suffered a heart attack.

Taylor will be best remembered for his spell in charge of England from 1990-93 and successful stints with Watford and Aston Villa.

He began his footballing career as a player with Scunthorpe and also represented Grimsby and Lincoln before moving into management with the latter.

He also had a spell as manager at Wolves and later became a respected pundit with the BBC and BT Sport.

A family statement read: “With the greatest sadness, we have to announce that Graham passed away at his home early this morning of a suspected heart attack. The family are devastated by this sudden and totally unexpected loss.”

Figures from across the game were quick to pay tribute.

One of his former England players Alan Shearer tweeted: “Completely shocked by news of Graham Taylor. Always held him in the very highest regard - the man who gave me my first @england cap. So sad.”

Sir Elton John, Taylor’s chairman at Watford, expressed his sadness via an Instagram post.

He wrote: “I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear about Graham’s passing. He was like a brother to me. We shared an unbreakable bond since we first met. We went on an incredible journey together and it will stay with me forever.

“He took my beloved Watford from the depths of the lower leagues to unchartered territory and into Europe. We have become a leading English club because of his managerial wisdom and genius.

“This is a sad and dark day for Watford. The club and the town. We will cherish Graham and drown our sorrows in the many brilliant memories he gave us.

“I love you Graham. I will miss you very much.

“My thoughts go out to Rita, Joanne, Karen and the whole Taylor family. @watfordfcofficial #GrahamTaylor #RIP.”

It was at Watford, where Taylor’s managerial career really took off after cutting his teeth with Lincoln.

After being appointed in 1977, he took the club from the Fourth Division to a second-placed finish in the top flight, qualifying the UEFA Cup in 1983. They reached the FA Cup final the following year. He moved to Villa in 1987 but had a second spell at Vicarage Road from 1996-2001.

Watford’s present chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury said: “As one, together at our club, we are all utterly devastated to learn of Graham’s passing.”

Taylor took charge at Villa following relegation to the Second Division. He won promotion at the first attempt and two years after that, in 1990, they finished runners-up to Liverpool in the First Division.

That achievement was instrumental in securing him the England position. Years later, in 2002, he came out of managerial retirement for a second spell at Villa.

Taylor’s spell in charge of England ended in disappointment after failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, a campaign which was chronicled in a TV documentary which became famous.

Taylor faced fierce criticism at times with the national side, notably for his perceived reliance on long-ball tactics. One newspaper ridiculed him by depicting him as a turnip.

Taylor took England to Euro 92 but his side did not progress beyond the group stages. He was derided for substituting leading striker Gary Lineker when a goal was needed in a decisive game against Sweden.

“Very sad news that Graham Taylor has passed away. An outstanding manager, lover of football and thoroughly decent man,” said Lineker.