Ron Atkinson, David Hirst and Gary Lineker pay tribute to police Taser victim Dalian Atkinson

Dalian Atkinson (centre) in Sheffield Wednesday days

The 48-year-old from Telford, who won the first Match Of The Day goal of the season competition in the Premiership era, died around 90 minutes after the shot from the police stun gun at around 1.30am.

He played under Ron Atkinson at both Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa, and his former boss remembered a happy man both on and off the pitch.

The manager, who masterminded Villa’s Wembley victory in 1994, said: “He always had a smile on his face - and played football with a smile on his face.

“He was popular in the dressing room, had terrific ability and did it in the big games. He did very well for me. I signed him at Sheffield Wednesday and when I joined Villa he was one of the first players I wanted to bring in. It’s tragic.”

Atkinson brought the player to Sheffield in 1989, paying £450,000 for him.

David Hirst, who played alongside Atkinson up front for the Owls in the top flight during the 1989/90 season before the club was relegated, described it as a “sad day and a massive shock”.

Hirst said: “This is not the news you want to be seeing.

Police at Meadow Close in the Trench area of Telford, where former Sheffield Wednesday footballer Dalian Atkinson died after he was tasered by police early on Monday.

“I saw the news and was thinking they had surely got it wrong. That should not happen.

“Whatever has happened, I can’t comment on that, but I do know he was a great lad and a great character to have around the place.

“We got on great and had one season together before he moved on to Spain and then Ron Atkinson brought him back to Villa.

“He was some player and of course at Villa he scored that goal of the season.

Dalian Atkinson, who died after he was Tasered by police in Telford early on Monday.

“On his day he was unplayable and even on an off-day he could be unplayable because of his lightning pace.

“He was loud and fun to be around. He had an opinion, but who doesn’t? It’s very sad.”

Former England striker and Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker described Atkinson as a “fine footballer”, while the official Villa twitter feed carried four images of the player with the caption: “You’ll never be forgotten.”

Villa’s new owner, Dr Tony Xia, tweeted a clip of Atkinson’s famous 1992 solo effort against Wimbledon.

He wrote: “Sad news! That ball was one the one of best memories for me! #Ripdalian”