Former Sunderland and West Brom keeper Fulop dies

Former Tottenham, Sunderland, Ipswich and West Brom goalkeeper Marton Fulop has died at the age of 32.

A statement on the official website of another of the Hungary international’s former clubs, MTK Budapest, read: “We are deeply sorrowful and grieved to announce that after a long illness, Marton Fulop has died.”

Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne said on the Black Cats’ official website: “We are devastated to hear of Marton’s passing. He was a genuinely lovely man, liked and respected by everyone at the club during his four years with us.

“It is desperately sad when we lose a member of our Sunderland family but to lose one so young and in such circumstances is simply heart-breaking.

“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Marton’s family and friends at this terribly sad time.”

Budapest-born Fulop joined Spurs from his first club, MTK, at the age of 21 in the summer of 2004 but did not make a first team appearance for them.

Loan spells at Chesterfield, Coventry City and Sunderland followed before he made the move to Wearside permanently in January 2007.

He stayed with the Black Cats until 2010, making more than 40 appearances – although he also had loan stints at Leicester City and Stoke City during that time.

Manchester City signed Fulop on an emergency loan in 2010 because of injuries to regular number one Shay Given and back-up keepers Stuart Taylor and David Gonzalez, while current England number one Joe Hart was on loan at Birmingham.

The Hungarian made just one appearance for City before signing a two-year deal with Ipswich in 2010. The Suffolk side were managed by Roy Keane, who signed him at Sunderland.

After more than 30 appearances for Ipswich, just one followed in a one-year spell at West Brom, before he joined Greek side Asteras Tripoli in 2012.