After Chris Nicholl passed away, former Blackburn Rovers striker Alan Shearer led the remembrances of the former Burnley FC defender and the man who offered him a chance at playing in the first team.
Nicholl’s family has revealed that he passed away at the age of 77. Nicholl played in almost 500 games and managed 400 more.
The center defender, who began his career at Turf Moor, went on to play for Witton Albion, FC H, Luton Town Halifax Town, and finally Aston Villa, where he experienced the pinnacle of his playing career.
Having played over 200 games for Villa, he led the Birmingham team to the 1977 League Cup championship and scored the winning goal.
After that, he relocated to Southampton and played for the Saints when they were promoted to the premier league before retiring from the game at Grimsby Town.
In addition, he participated in the 1982 World Cup and made 51 appearances for Northern Ireland, tallying three goals.
Following his retirement, he coached Walsall and served as an assistant for his nation. He later managed Southampton, providing players like Alan Shearer, Rod Wallace, and Matt Le Tissier their first team opportunities.
He was found to have suffered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which can only be officially diagnosed after death, and dementia, which he blamed to repeatedly heading balls over his long career.
A family statement posted on the Facebook page of the former central defender’s daughter Cathy revealed his passing.
It stated: “We write this with sorrowful hearts. Our father, Chris Nicholl, unfortunately passed away quietly in the hospital on Saturday night.
“His commitment to football led to a protracted battle with CTE.” Words cannot express how much we will miss him.
Alan Shearer and Nicholl co-starred in the documentary Dementia, Football and Me, and the former Rovers striker also gave a tribute.
“RIP, Chris Nicholl,” he murmured. You gave me a chance and showed faith in me. I’m grateful.
Nicholl stated, “I am brain-damaged from heading footballs,” during the 2017 program. I’m having memory problems.
“We all forget commonplace things, like where our keys are.” That’s different, though, when you forget where you live.
“It has been like that for the past four or five years, and it is unquestionably becoming worse.” I find it bothersome.
“Aston Villa is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Chris Nicholl, who has died at the age of 77,” the club wrote in a tribute.
“Everyone at the club is thinking of Chris’s friends and family at this trying time.
“Chris Nicholl won the League Cup, received two promotions, and his accomplishments in claret and blue will always be remembered.
“With 252 games and 20 goals, he was a formidable force at the center of the Aston Villa defense for more than five seasons.
“Chris, rest in peace.”
The Northern Irish FA continued, saying, “We are very grieved by Chris Nicholl’s loss. 51 games for us, including the 1982 World Cup in Spain, were played by him.
“At this time, our thoughts are with his family and friends.”