The horrific news broke this afternoon – just hours before Aston Villa’s play-off semi-final second leg with Middlesbrough.
Samuel made 240 Premier League appearances for Villa and Bolton Wanderers and was capped twice at international level for Trinidad and Tobago.
The news was confirmed in a statement from the Trinidad and Tobago FA, who described how his ‘vehicle caught fire’ after a collision in England.
The statement read: “We’ve received some terrible news that former National defender and Ex-Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers player Jlloyd Samuel died in a car crash this morning in England.
“According to reports, Jlloyd was returning home after dropping his kids off to school and collided with an oncoming vehicle.
“His vehicle caught fire and his body was discovered burnt.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and his former national teammates at this time extends deepest condolences to his family members both in the UK and here in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Aston Villa tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former player Jlloyd Samuel at the age of just 37 in a car accident
“Our players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect tonight and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very difficult time.”
The club added: “We will be holding a minute’s applause tonight as a mark of respect for our former defender Jlloyd Samuel, who passed away earlier today.”
Bolton’s official account tweeted: “Everybody associated with Bolton Wanderers Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former defender, Jlloyd Samuel.
“Rest in peace, Jlloyd. Our deepest condolences are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
Stan Collymore paid a heartfelt tribute to his former team-mate, who he described as a fantastic pro.
“Devastating news about J Lloyd Samuel,” he said. Was a fantastic young pro @AVFCOfficial and I know many at our club will be truly distraught today.
“I know our club will honour him tonight and remainder of the season. Rest in peace Jay.”
Samuel spent three years playing in Iran after leaving Bolton and has most recently been player-manager of Cheshire non-league side Egerton.
Speaking about his experiences of playing in Iran, Samuel said last year: “When I first arrived at the training ground, they gave me a special welcome – I saw the sheep, the sheep looked at me, I was looking at the sheep and the next thing the neck is gone.
“People were walking through the blood, they put it on themselves and then carried on like nothing had happened.
“I soon realised that was their culture, they do it for good fortune. If they are struggling in the league, or need good luck for a big derby match, then they would do it before a game.
“In the end I would turn around, I did not want to see it, I was not against their religion, but it is something I did not want to see.”
