Jlloyd Tafari Samuel, a former Trinidadian professional footballer who also played as a defender and midfielder for Aston Villa, has passed away at the age of 37. The former Trinidad and Tobago international was involved in a collision with a truck near Warrington, England.
During his playing career, Samuel played in the Premier League for both Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers. On August 7, 2009, it was announced that Samuel had received his Trinidadian passports making them eligible to play for the national team. Samuel made his debut for the Soca Warriors in a 4–1 defeat to Honduras on September 6, 2009.
The Trinidad and Tobago Soccer Association released a statement on Twitter saying, “We’ve received some terrible news that former National defender and Ex-Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers player Jlloyd Samuel died in a car crash this morning in England. The TTFA and all his former teammates extend deepest condolences to his family in this most difficult time.”
Samuel was most recently player-manager of non-league side Egerton.
via The Independent:
Samuel’s Range Rover reportedly collided with a lorry on his route back to his home near Warrington on Tuesday morning, after he had dropped his children at school.
Samuel was born in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up in London, where he played junior football for Senrab, the club which produced famous names including John Terry and Sol Campbell, as well as West Ham and Charlton.
He is best known for a nine-year spell at Aston Villa, where he made 169 Premier League appearances predominantly at left-back. He also represented England at youth level before switching to Trinidad and Tobago at senior level, winning two senior international caps.
Aston Villa, the club Samuel was best known for playing on, tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former player Jlloyd Samuel at the age of just 37 in a car accident. Our players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect tonight and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very difficult time.”