Former Bristol Rovers, Nottingham Forest and Ghana striker Junior Agogo has died at the age of 40.
Agogo scored nearly 90 goals in British football and won 27 caps for Ghana.
He helped the Black Stars to a third-placed finish at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and scored 12 goals for Ghana.
The Ghana Football Association is saddened by news of the sudden demise of ex-Ghana star Junior Agogo. On behalf of the Ghanaian football fraternity, we extend our sincere condolences to the family of our Black Star, Junior Agogo. May his soul Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/cRgskOyuC3— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) August 22, 2019
Agogo suffered a stroke in 2015, just three years after playing his final game in professional football for Scottish club Hibernian.
Accra-born Agogo began his career at Sheffield Wednesday before moving to the United States and playing for Major League Soccer clubs Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes.
Agogo returned to England to play for QPR and Barnet but it was at Bristol Rovers where he enjoyed his best goals return, 41 in 126 league games between 2003 and 2006.
💙 RIP Junior Agogo.— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) August 22, 2019
He then spent two seasons at Forest, scoring 23 goals in 75 appearances, before ending his career with Egyptian club Zamalek, Apollon Limassol in Cyprus and Hibernian.
The striker’s former clubs paid tribute to Agogo on social media, with Rovers describing him as “a Gas legend”.
Forest tweeted: “Rest in peace, Junior. #NFFC are saddened to learn that former striker Junior Agogo has passed away.”
On their official Twitter account, the Ghana Football Association said: “On behalf of the Ghanaian football fraternity, we extend our sincere condolences to the family of our Black Star, Junior Agogo. May his soul Rest In Peace.”
Rest in peace, Junior ❤️ #NFFC are saddened to learn that former striker Junior Agogo has passed away.— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) August 22, 2019
Agogo had been a keen supporter of The National Brain Appeal’s fundraising campaign for high dose therapy programme for stroke and brain injured patients with aphasia throughout his illness.
Aphasia is an impairment of language resulting from injury to the brain, most commonly from a stroke.
Theresa Dauncey, chief executive of The National Brain Appeal charity, said: “We are very sad to hear that former professional footballer Junior Agogo has passed away.
“Junior very kindly lent his support to The National Brain Appeal’s Aphasia Appeal, a condition he had experience of following his stroke. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
