West Mercia police said a 48-year-old man had died. It is understood the man was Atkinson, who also played for Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town. He is believed to have been visiting his father, thought to be in his 80s.
The force said officers fired a Taser at about 1.30am on Monday after responding to reports of concerns for a person’s safety. The man failed to respond to medical attention and was pronounced dead 90 minutes later.
The incident was automatically referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as it involved a death caused by police officers. The force said it was assisting the IPCC with its investigation and was unable to comment further.
The IPCC confirmed it had been notified of the incident and said it would issue a statement.
Forensic officers were at the scene on Monday and Meadow Close remained cordoned off. Neighbours said the former footballer had made frequent visits in his Porsche.
Matthew Bothwell said: “Every time he would come he would have crowds around him. It’s close-knit community. I just can’t bear to think what his family are going through.”
Tina Bothwell said: “He was loving, caring and got on with everybody in the street. He always got on with the kids because they absolutely loved his car.”
Another resident, Paula Quinn, said Atkinson appeared to be “almost staggering” in the street before he was Tasered. She claimed Atkinson went down “like a lead balloon” after being hit by the Taser.
Quinn said: “I heard shouting and something smashing, which is what alerted me to look out of the window. I am feeling a bit sick knowing that the poor lad has passed. I don’t care what anybody has done. Nobody deserves to die as a result of something like that.”
Tasers deliver an incapacitating 50,000-volt shock, and critics say the weapon is too often lethal. It has been linked to at least 10 deaths in England and Wales over the last decade. In 2013, Jordan Lee Begley, 23, died two hours after a Greater Manchester officer targeted him with a stun gun at his home after police were called to reports of an argument.
A West Midlands ambulance service spokesman said: “We were called by West Mercia police to an address in Meadow Close in the Trench area of Telford at about 1.45am this morning. An ambulance was dispatched and upon arrival found a man who had been Tasered.
“As he was being conveyed to Princess Royal hospital, his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of the crew and hospital staff, it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead at hospital, shortly after arrival.”
Atkinson achieved acclaim for his goal of the season against Wimbledon in 1992 as part of an Aston Villa team that went on to secure a runners-up spot in the first year of the Premiership.
He also scored at Wembley in 1994 as Villa beat Manchester United to lift the League Cup.
He started his career at Ipswich and then played for Sheffield Wednesday and the Spanish side Real Sociedad before moving to Villa. He was the first black player for Sociedad, scoring 12 goals in La Liga.
At Villa he scored more than 20 Premier League goals between 1991 and 1995 before going on to play less successfully for teams including the Turkish side Fenerbahçe and Manchester City.
He ended his playing career in South Korea in 2001. He was never capped for England but was selected for the England B team.
Former teammates and fellow professionals expressed their shock and sorrow, including the former Villa and Australia goalkeeper Mark Bosnich.
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