Repeatedly heading a soccer ball led to the passing of Nobby Stiles, an England World Cup champion, as stated by a coroner. Stiles, aged 78, a former Manchester United footballer and member of the 1966 World Cup-winning team, suffered from severe dementia and had headed the ball approximately 140,000 times throughout his career, revealed the Stockport Coroner’s Court during the investigation into his death.
Examination of Stiles’ brain indicated that his severe dementia was linked to Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition associated with head injuries from heading a soccer ball. Dr. Daniel Du Plessis, a neuro-pathology expert, affirmed in court that he believed Stiles’ extensive heading of the ball had caused his CTE.
Born in Manchester in 1942, Norbert “Nobby” Stiles was known for his tough defensive play as a midfielder, earning 28 caps for England and playing nearly 400 games for United. He passed away in October 2020 after a prolonged illness, prompting his family to advocate for better support from football organizations for former players dealing with injuries sustained during their playing careers.
