The death certificate for former Aston Villa and Southampton defender Chris Nicholl now states he suffered from a brain disease linked to repetitive head trauma. This change reflects Nicholl's long battle with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition he attributed to heading footballs during his career.
Nicholl passed away at the age of 77 on Saturday, 24 February 2024, after living with dementia. His family confirmed his death, noting his fight with CTE, caused by his dedication to football.
CTE is a neurodegenerative disease resulting from repeated head impacts, including concussions and subconcussions. It can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem through examination of brain tissue.
Nicholl played over 200 games for both Aston Villa and Southampton, and earned 51 caps for Northern Ireland. He also managed Southampton and Walsall.
