A gentle giant but a colossus on the pitch

AS a player, Ugo was a colossus, extremely difficult to get past. He was a big, strong guy and quick with it.

But he wasn’t one of those dopey centre-halves like most of us. He was articulate, respectful to everyone and always willing to learn.

Very rarely would you hear him barking out orders. He would guide people but he wasn’t a shouter, he had his own way. A gentle giant.

I’d joined Villa from Liverpool and Ugo would listen to me because he had that respect. Even if he might not agree with you, he’d hear you out. He was quite a funny lad. He wouldn’t be at the forefront, one of those you’d say was the joker in the pack, but he was up for a bit of fun with everyone else. Our highlight at Villa was beating Leeds United 3-0 to win the League Cup at Wembley in 1996. Ugo was immense that day in the final, the whole team was. A good man has gone too early.