The world is a worse place without him. So Alan Knight says of his old teammate and friend Alan McLoughlin, who has died aged 54.
Pompey's players, officials and fans have paid fulsome tributes to the Irishman who served the club as a fine midfield player and later a coach.
He made more than 350 appearances for Pompey between 1992 and 1999 and had had close links with the club in more recent years, as a coach and a radio summariser.
Knight, who was a teammate through the penalty specialist's nine seasons in the Blues team, led the tributes, telling the club website: "Like everyone, I was shocked to hear the news. He was a lovely family man and I’m gutted for Debbie and their girls. He was a loyal friend and if you ever needed him, then he would be there. I’m absolutely devastated.
'I’m not articulate enough to describe just how great a guy he was and there aren’t enough accolades I can give him. Having played alongside Macca at Pompey and worked with him as a coach, I always knew I could rely on him.
'It’s easy to forget that he used to be a Southampton player and that speaks volumes about just how good he was. There aren’t many who are able to cross that divide, but the fans loved him — and so did his team-mates.
'What a player he was. He scored some fantastic goals for us and was an incredibly creative midfielder. He’s viewed as a god in the Republic of Ireland — and rightly so — because of that goal he scored that took them to the World Cup.
'Everyone knows how talented a footballer he was, but it’s easy to overlook that he was also a great coach. Macca had a dry sense of humour and the world is definitely a worse place without him in it. He was a top bloke.'
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