.
Subscribe to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter, which will be delivered directly to your inbox at no cost.
Join Miguel Delaney’s complimentary weekly newsletter.
Chris Nicholl, a former player for Southampton and Northern Ireland, who led Aston Villa to victory in the League Cup, passed away at 77 years old.
Nicholl, who previously managed Southampton before becoming the manager of Walsall, was diagnosed with dementia, specifically chronic traumatic encephalopathy. He believed that his brain damage was a result of frequently heading balls during his long career.
The passing of the ex-central defender was confirmed through a statement from his daughter Cathy on Facebook.
It is difficult to express how greatly we will miss him.
We are saddened to announce that our father, Chris Nicholl, passed away on Saturday evening in the hospital.
He endured a lengthy struggle with CTE, resulting from his commitment to football. It’s impossible to express how much we will miss him.
Nicholl, originally from Wilmslow, played for Northern Ireland 51 times and was part of the 1982 World Cup team in Spain. He started his career at Burnley and later played over 200 games for both Villa and the Saints.
He was a reliable defender and gained recognition for scoring a 40-yard shot as Villa won the 1977 League Cup against Everton in a 3-2 second replay at Old Trafford, which required extra time.
Aston Villa, a club based in the midlands, shared on X: “We are saddened by the news of the passing of Chris Nicholl, a former player for our team. He passed away at the age of 77.”
Our hearts go out to Chris’ loved ones during this challenging period.
Chris Nicholl will always be remembered for his accomplishments in Aston Villa, winning both the promotion and League Cup twice.
For more than five seasons, he was a prominent player in the Aston Villa defense, appearing in 252 games and scoring 20 goals.
“May Chris rest in peace.”
After retiring as a player, Nicholl transitioned to a managerial role at the Dell. He was chosen as Lawrie McMenemy’s successor in the summer of 1985. Nicholl was responsible for promoting promising players such as Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier, and Rod Wallace to the Southampton first team.
On X, Shearer expressed: “Rest in peace Chris Nicholl. You had faith in me and gave me the opportunity. Thank you.”
Le Tissier expressed his condolences to the family of his first manager, Chris Nicholl, who passed away.
“I will forever be thankful to Chris for believing in me as a 17-year-old and giving me the chance to prove myself as a professional football player. Though he is no longer with us, he will always be remembered. #RIPChris.”
In May 1991, Nicholl left the Saints and spent three years away from the sport before becoming the manager of Walsall.
The Saddlers announced on X: “We are deeply saddened by the news of former manager Chris Nicholl’s passing.”
From 1994 to 1997, Chris served as the leader of the Saddlers and successfully guided them to promote to Division Two during the 1994-95 season, which was a notable accomplishment.
We are thinking of his loved ones and friends during this very sorrowful period.
During his time as the manager of Northern Ireland, Nicholl worked alongside McMenemy as his assistant manager.
The Irish FA’s X account released a statement expressing their sorrow at the news of Chris Nicholl’s death. Nicholl had appeared in 51 games for the team, including the 1982 World Cup held in Spain.
We are thinking of his family and friends during this difficult time.
During a BBC documentary in 2017, Nicholl expressed his concerns to Shearer about the long-term effects of his time as a professional athlete.
He stated that he has suffered brain damage from repeatedly heading footballs, resulting in memory issues.
Forgetting everyday items, like your keys, is common. However, forgetting your own home is a different situation.
“I’ve had this issue for the past four or five years and it’s definitely worsening. It’s quite bothersome.”
Source: independent.co.uk
