Former England captain Ray Wilkins dies

Ray Wilkins, an elegant midfielder who captained England’s national soccer team and played for illustrious teams such as Manchester United, Chelsea and AC Milan in a 24-year career, died Wednesday. He was 61.

St George’s Hospital said in a statement on behalf of Wilkins’ family that he died on Wednesday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest last week.

Nicknamed “Butch,” Wilkins played 84 times for England – captaining the team for 10 games. He also played for Rangers and Queens Park Rangers, among others, in a club career that ended in 1997.

He went on to coach QPR and Fulham, as well as having a brief spell in charge of Jordan’s national team. He was assistant coach at a slew of clubs, most notably Chelsea from 2008-10.

Wilkins was a popular figure within the game and his soothing voice and insight made him stand out as a commentator on British TV and radio in recent years.

One of Wilkins’ most famous moments as a player came in 1986 when he became the first England player to be sent off in a World Cup after throwing the ball at a referee during a group game against Morocco.

As a player, he won the FA Cup with Man United in 1983 and the Scottish league title with Rangers in 1989. Wilkins is survived by his wife, Jackie, two children and several grandchildren.