Former Liverpool striker Michael Robinson has passed away at the age of 61.
Robinson moved to Anfield in 1983 from Brighton & Hove Albion and was part of the team that won treble of the league, League Cup and European Cup.
He made a total of 52 appearances for the Reds and scored 13 goals before enjoying spells with Queens Park Rangers and La Liga outfit Osasuna.
After ending his playing career in Spain, the Republic of Ireland international settled in the country and became one of its leading football broadcasters.
Robinson revealed in December 2018 that he had been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
The striker’s family confirmed his passing on his official Twitter account.
“With tremendous sadness we inform you of Michael’s death,’ they wrote.
“It leaves us with a great emptiness, but also countless memories, full of the same love that you have shown him.
“We will be eternally grateful to you for making this man SO HAPPY, he never walked alone. Thank you.”
Liverpool announced that they were ‘deeply saddened’ by Robinson’s death while ex-teammate Graeme Souness reflected on the pair’s personal affinity.
“My friendship started with him when he first joined Liverpool,” Souness told Sky Sports.
“We used to go to the Top Hat on a Thursday night for dinner [with] his wife and my wife. Then obviously we became great pals.
“I remember we went to Israel once and we roomed together and we roomed at other places as well when Kenny (Dalglish) was maybe injured.
“He was a close pal of mine and I’m absolutely sick for his family. It’s a sad day for me. I’ve tried to ring him a couple of times in the last couple of weeks.
“Michael was a very emotional man and he wouldn’t pick up the phone anymore to me. It was only last night I’m thinking ‘I’m going to try him until I get him’.
“And I thought, ‘I won’t ring him now because he maybe in his bed having an early bed’ and I was going to ring him today – and I’ve not got a chance to speak to him.”