5 footballers who lost their lives while playing the game they loved

#5 Marc-Vivien Foe (Age 28): Cameroon v Colombia, June 23, 2003

The pictures of the giant midfield machine that was Marc-Vivien Foe lying prone on the turf in the 2003 Confederations Cup semi-final is one that will haunt football fans forever.

Foe was as dynamic a midfield general as it was possible to be. A rampaging colossus of a man, which is why his death is particularly hard to understand.

Manchester United were close to signing him years before, hinting at how well thought of he was in the game, but it would be West Ham United that would propel him into the English national consciousness with manager Harry Redknapp playing him alongside the likes of Paolo di Canio and a young Frank Lampard.

He would move back to France and play for Lyon before finally ending up at Manchester City.

Cameroon looked odds on to be a real contender for the Confederations Cup trophy before tragedy befell them. It was the 72nd minute that Foe collapsed in the centre-circle with no players near him. Though he was still alive when being taken from the field, attempts at resuscitation failed and he died at Stade Gerland’s medical centre some 45 minutes later.

His manager, Winfried Schafer, had wanted to substitute him as he felt Foe looked lethargic, but the player had indicated he was fine to continue. His widow, Marie-Louise, would also note how he had stomach pains and dysentery before the game, but Foe had been adamant that he wanted to play because the venue was in Lyon, a place close to his heart.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was given as the cause of death.