Former Northern Ireland striker dies aged 69

Death of Derek Dougan: Former Wolves and Northern Ireland striker Derek Dougan has died at the age of 69

Death of Derek Dougan:Former Wolves and Northern Ireland striker Derek Dougan has died at the age of 69. The news will come as a shock to the Molineux faithful, who marvelled at his skills following his arrival from Leicester in 1967.

Dougan played 323 times for the club in all, scoring 123 goals and helping create countless more in a lethal partnership with John Richards.

Chief executive Jez Moxey said: "Everyone at Molineux will be saddened by this news.

"Derek was a very talented and colourful footballer who was much loved by the supporters during the years that he wore the Wolves shirt."

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Dougan was born in Belfast in 1938 and began his footballing career with Lisburn Distillery.

Portsmouth brought him to England in 1959 and he also played for Blackburn, Aston Villa and Peterborough before joining Leicester.

But it was with Wolves, his sixth English club, where he really found his home after joining them in 1967, helping them win the 1974 League Cup.

Dougan was also capped 43 times by Northern Ireland and Irish Football Association Jim Boyce paid tribute to the striker.

"He was a bit of a legend in Northern Ireland football history," Boyce said on Sky Sports News.

"It's a very sad day."

Dougan had a short stint as a player in the United States.

Dougan is believed to have died suddenly at his home in Wolverhampton.