Tributes are being paid to former Wolves and Belgium striker Cedric Roussel

Wolves have paid tribute to former striker Cedric Roussel after a shock death at the age of just 45.

Roussel suffered a fatal heart attack this afternoon back home in Belgium, where local press say he had been sitting on a terrace in Grote Markt, Mons. Emergency services arrived quickly and tried resuscitation but it did not work.

In a post on social media, Wolves wrote: “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Cedric Roussel. Our former player has passed away aged just 45.”

Another of Roussel’s old clubs, RAEC Mons had broken the news with the message: “We would like to convey our deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones of Roussel. Thank you Cédric, you have left your mark on our club history.”

The Belgium national team account added: “We send our condolences to the family and friends of Cedric Roussel.”

Roussel had been a prolific forward for La Louviere before joining Coventry via Gent and he linked up with former Wolves forward Robbie Keane in the Premier League.

He joined Wolves in early 2001 as one of Dave Jones’s first signings and was on the fringes of the first team in the play-off campaign of 2001/02 before moving on loan to Mons, who he then joined permanently the following summer. He went on to play for a series of clubs including Genk and Standard Liege and he picked up three caps for Belgium.

He retired from playing at the age of 37 in 2015 and he later worked in real estate in Belgium.