Cardiff City legend Peter Whittingham dies, aged 35

Former Cardiff City footballer Peter Whittingham has died, the club has confirmed.

In a statement, it said, "It is with an immeasurable amount of sorrow that we must inform supporters that Peter Whittingham has passed away at the age of 35. We are heartbroken."

The statement reads, "The news of Peter’s sudden and untimely passing has shaken us to our very foundation. Our love goes out to his wife Amanda, their young son and family."

South Wales Police had confirmed he was being treated in hospital after suffering a head injury following a fall on 7 March.

The 35-year-old from Nuneaton, played eleven seasons for the Bluebirds after joining the side in 2007.

He is widely regarded as one of the finest players ever toplay for the club.

He played in two major cup finals - the FA Cup final in 2008 and Carling Cup final in 2012 - and won a Championship winners' medal in 2013 as Cardiff were promoted to the Premier League.

He made over 450 appearances and scored 98 goals in 10 years at Cardiff before finishing his career at Blackburn in 2018.

The statement by the club continued by saying his family are "at the forefront of our thoughts."

Friend and former teammate Michael Chopra tweeted following the news to say he is "devastated" to have lost an old teammate.

England football tweeted to say they were "deeply saddened" by the news, as well as Blackburn Rovers.

Manchester United's manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who managed Cardiff City in 2014, said his death was ''hard to believe''.

He said, “Peter was a fantastic footballer and an incredible human being. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him during my time at Cardiff City. It’s hard to believe that he has been taken from us at such a young age. Peter will be deeply missed.”

Wales international, Aaron Ramsey, said he was ''forever grateful'' to his former teammate.