Football stars past and present among mourners at funeral for Ugo Ehiogu, who died aged 44 of heart attack

Ugo and his wife Gemma share a precious moment during their marriage together. The photo featured in the order of service

Gareth Southgate gave a touching speech at Ugo Ehiogu's funeral, paying tribute to a man who he put his life on the line alongside on the football field for 11 years, then cruelly had to watch his life taken too soon.

They arrived at St Michael's church, in Highgate, by the bus load — a dozen in total — with more than 400 people turning up to remember a former team-mate, a friend and relative. It was a time for tears, but also for laughs, as the England manager recalled the small things that everyone loved about such a big man on and off the field.

'Gareth hit on how he would order something off the menu, but he'd want it without that, without that, without that and without that and done a different way,' Brian Little, his manager for four years at Aston Villa, said. 'Ugo was very fussy with his food.

A hearse carrying the coffin of footballer Ugo Ehiogu, who died of a heart attack on April 21, in London on Wednesday

Gemma Coleman at the service for her husband Ugo, who collapsed at Tottenham's training ground and died a day later

Former Middlesbrough team-mate Paul Ince (left) and former Aston Villa team-mate Paul Merson (right) were present

Ex-Manchester United and Newcastle forward Andy Cole (right), who underwent a kidney transplant in April, was at the service, as was ex-Arsenal and Crystal Palace striker-turned BBC pundit Ian Wright (left)

England manager Gareth Southgate, who played with Ehiogu at Aston Villa, was present to pay his respects (right) while Ehiogu's former Aston Villa boss Ron Atkinson joined him

The Tottenham Under-23’s coach, who enjoyed a 20-year playing career most notably with Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, England and Glasgow Rangers, died on April 21 following a cardiac arrest at Tottenham’s Enfield training centre.

He was 44-year-old and leaves behind his wife, Gemma, and their two children.

England manager Gareth Southgate, who played alongside Ehiogu at Villa, Boro and with the national side, was at St Michael's Church in Highgate for the service.

Former Villa boss Ron Atkinson, team-mate Andy Townsend and ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright were also in attendance to pay their respects.

Following his death, Gemma set up a collection fund on the JustGiving website in order to help raise money to form a charity in memory of her husband.