Former Ivory Coast and Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote has died while training with his Chinese club, Beijing Enterprises. His agent<\/b>
\nFormer Ivory Coast and Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote has died while training with his Chinese club, Beijing Enterprises.
His agent Emanuele Palladino has confirmed the 30-year-old collapsing in training.
\u201cWe\u00a0cannot\u00a0say\u00a0any\u00a0more\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0moment\u00a0and\u00a0we\u00a0request\u00a0that\u00a0his\u00a0family\u2019s\u00a0privacy\u00a0be\u00a0respected\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0difficult\u00a0time. We\u00a0ask\u00a0for\u00a0all\u00a0your\u00a0prayers, \u201d Palladino told Sky Sports.
Tiote played for English club Newcastle United for seven years before moving to China in February.
He was an African Nations Cup winner with the Ivorians in 2015 although he missed the final through injury and he played in the 2010 and 21014 World Cups.
There\u00a0has\u00a0not\u00a0been\u00a0any\u00a0comment\u00a0from\u00a0his\u00a0current\u00a0club\u00a0but\u00a0Newcastle\u00a0issued\u00a0a\u00a0statement\u00a0on\u00a0their\u00a0website (www.nufc.co.uk) .
\u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0devastated\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0learnt\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0tragic\u00a0passing\u00a0of\u00a0Cheick\u00a0Tiote\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0age\u00a0of\u00a0just\u00a030, \u201c\u00a0the\u00a0newly\u00a0promoted\u00a0Premier\u00a0League\u00a0club\u00a0said.
\u201cThe\u00a0thoughts\u00a0of\u00a0everyone\u00a0at\u00a0Newcastle\u00a0United\u00a0are\u00a0with\u00a0Cheick\u2019s\u00a0family, friends, team\u00a0mates\u00a0and\u00a0everyone\u00a0connected\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0clubs\u00a0he\u00a0represented.\u201d
Great Sadness
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez added: \u201cIt is with great sadness that I have this afternoon learned of Cheick\u2019s death.
\u201cIn all the time that I have known him, he was a true professional, dedicated and above all, a great man. Our hearts go out to his family and friends at such a sad time.\u201d
Born in Yamoussoukro, Tiote moved to Belgium as a teenager after being scouted by Anderlecht for whom he made his debut in the Champions League in 2005.
He spent a season at Roda JC Kerkrade on loan and later moved to another Dutch club FC Twente where he won the 2009-10 Eredivisie title under former England manager Steve McLaren.
The defensive midfielder was sold by Twente to Newcastle for 3.5 million pounds ($4.52 million) in 2010 and cemented his place in club folklore with a long-range equaliser in the 4-4 Premier League draw with Arsenal at St James\u2019 Park in Feb. 2011.
Several of his former clubs and team-mates have taken to Twitter to express their shock and sadness.<\/p>\n