Hungarian keeper Marton Fulop dies aged 32

Tributes poured in for former Hungary goalkeeper Marton Fulop on Thursday after the former Premier League goalkeeper died from cancer aged just 32. "It is with deep sadness and grieving that we inform that after a long illness Marton Fulop has passed away," Fulop's former club MTK Budapest said on its website.

In February 2013, Fulop reported sharp pain in his arm after saving a shot during a training session. A cancer diagnosis followed soon after, but following an operation and chemotherapy treatment, Fulop believed he had made a full recovery. Sadly, despite offers, he never returned to professional football again.

England coach Roy Hodgson led the tributes, saying: "I'm really devastated by the news. I worked with him for a year at West Brom, he was a really nice person and a good professional. All I can do is pass on my condolences to his family and say it is a sad day for them, but also a sad day for football too."

Many Hungarian and Premier League clubs posted photographs and tributes to the popular Fulop on their websiteson Thursday, while former teammates took to social media to pay their respects.

Spotted at MTK's youth academy, Fulop was signed by Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in 2004. The keeper went on to have loan spells at Chesterfield, Coventry City and Sunderland, who signed Fulop in 2007 before loaning him out again to Leicester City, Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion. Handed an international debut against France in 2005 by then-coach Lothar Matthäus, Fulop kept nine clean sheets in 24 appearances for Hungary, with his last game for his country coming in Amsterdam against the Netherlands in 2011.

As a mark of respect Hungary's national team wore black armbands for Thursday's Euro 2016 play-off first leg in Oslo against Norway, a game they won 1-0.

jh/ (AFP)