Belfast: Former Northern Ireland captain Alan McDonald has died aged 48, the Irish Football Association announced on Saturday.
“The Irish FA is saddened by this (Saturday) morning’s news of the sudden death of Alan McDonald,” said a statement on the governing body’s website.
“Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
The BBC reported the Belfast-born centre-half had collapsed while playing golf on Saturday morning.
McDonald, a stalwart with London club Queens Park Rangers, won 52 caps for his country and was a member of Northern Ireland’s World Cup side in 1986.
After his playing days were over, McDonald returned to QPR’s Loftus Road ground for a spell as the club’s assistant manager.
In a statement QPR said they were “desperately saddened to learn of the passing of former captain and assistant manager Alan McDonald”.
The defender also managed Glentoran, winning the Irish League title in 2009, and also coached Northern Ireland’s Under-21 side.
McDonald made more than 400 appearances for QPR in a 17-year spell and was in the team which reached the 1986 League Cup final, losing 3-0 to Oxford United.
He also played for Charlton, on loan, and Swindon Town.
At international level, McDonald played in the Northern Ireland team which drew 0-0 against England in 1985 to qualify for the following year’s World Cup finals in Mexico.
During that World Cup, McDonald played against Algeria, Spain and Brazil.
Former Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy, a close friend and former team-mate of McDonald’s, said: “I’m shell-shocked. Words can’t even enter my head at the moment.
“Forty-eight is so young. Alan was always larger than life — during his career and after.”
