Long-serving football journalist and broadcaster Mike Cockerill has died after a long illness.

Mr Cockerill, 56, spent more than 30 years reporting on soccer in Australia, largely with Fairfax newspapers and Fox Sports.

He covered six World Cups, the A-League and three Olympic Games in a long association with the game.

In 2011, he was inducted into the Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame.

Former Socceroo Robbie Slater said he was a great contributor to the game.

“Mike was greatly respected,” Mr Slater said on Fox Sports.

“A really top man. We pass on all our best to his family.

“He was a very, very special person to me. I’ve known him since I was 17. It’s a huge shock to me.

“He was doing the FFA Cup only four weeks ago and he’s been struck down. It happened very, very quickly.”

Mr Cockerill’s death comes a month after the passing of another well-known football media figure, Les Murray.