Ex-Romania defender Prodan dies aged 44

Bucharest : Former Romania international Daniel Prodan has died at the age of 44 following a heart attack at his home near Bucharest, the country's football federation (FRF) announced on Thursday.

Prodan won 54 caps for Romania and was part of the team that beat Argentina 3-2 as they reached the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup before losing to Sweden on penalties.

He was a five-time Romanian league champion with Steaua Bucharest and had a spell at Atletico Madrid before joining Rangers in 1998, although a knee injury prevented him from making a single first-team appearance at Ibrox.

Prodan took up a sporting director role with the FRF following his retirement in 2003.