He played for his country. He scored the goal of the season. He won trophies in three countries. And he died a year ago today at 48 after being tasered by police.
Dalian Atkinson will go down in history as a player whose great talent went unfulfilled and who met a tragic, untimely death. But behind the sad headlines lies a tale of cars, girls, goals and a happy-go-lucky adventurer who crossed the world looking for a game and new experiences.
He was the first black player at a conservative Spanish club, a party lover who went to a dry Muslim country and the first overseas signing for an unknown Korean side.