As the world of football mourns the loss of Manchester United legend Denis Law he joins a string of other footballers who have died of dementia including his former United teammate Sir Bobby Charlton.
The Express looks back on the famous football faces who have lost their lives to this devastating disease which has been linked, but not proved, to repeatedly heading the ball.
1. Sir Bobby Charlton (1937-2023, aged 86) Widely considered to be England’s greatest footballer, Charlton’s diagnosis was revealed with the permission of his wife, Lady Norma who hoped that people knowing the man who helped England win the World Cup in 1966 and Manchester United the European Cup two years later had the condition, would help others with dementia.
2. Jack Charlton (1935-2020, aged 85) The man who led the Republic of Ireland to two World Cups as manager during the 1990s having won the trophy with England as a player in 1966 had been diagnosed with lymphoma and also had dementia.
3. Nobby Stiles (1942-2020, aged 78) A member of England’s World Cup-winning side, Stiles, who was also part of Manchester United’s 1968 European Cup-winning team died following a long battle with prostate cancer and advanced mixed dementia (Alzheimer’s and vascular).
4. Jeff Astle (1942-2002, aged 59) The former West Brom and England forward’s inquest ruled that his death was the result of an “industrial disease” resulting from heading footballs. The verdict was the first of its kind on a professional sportsman in the UK.
5.Peter Bonetti (1941-2020, aged 78) The former Chelsea and England goalkeeper was known as The Cat because of his agility, making 729 appearances for Chelsea across two spells and represented his country at the 1970 World Cup.
He was also a member of England’s 1966 World Cup squad and had Alzheimer’s disease for a long time.
6. Mike Sutton (1944-2020, aged 76) The former Norwich City midfielder has dementia at the age of 75. His son Chris, proposed suing the FA and the Professional Footballers’ Association over his father’s condition.
7. Ray Wilson (1934-2018, aged 83) The left-back in England’s 1966 World Cup side, and former Everton player died of dementia after living for 14 years with Alzheimer’s.
8. Alan Jarvis (1943-2019, aged 76) A coroner ruled that the former Wales international death was as a result of pneumonia caused by Alzheimer’s disease and that his previous occupation – specifically being a professional footballer – had been “a factor” in his decline.
9. John Talbut (1940-2020, aged 79) The former West Brom defender and a member of the team who won the FA Cup in 1968 suffered with dementia for six years before his death.
10. Martin Peters (1943-2019, aged 76) Another member of England’s World Cup-winning side, Peters scored the “other goal” in the final against West Germany. The West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur legend made his Alzheimer’s diagnosis public in 2016.
