Image source, ReutersImage caption, Norbert "Nobby" Stiles headed the ball thousands of times a year in training, his son saysByMairead SmythReporting fromat Stockport Coroners' CourtPublished15 July 2026 England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles died with a brain condition caused by repeatedly heading a football, a coroner has ruled at his inquest. The former Manchester United and 1966 World Cup-winning midfielder died with severe dementia in 2020 aged 78 and had headed a football about 140,000 times in his career, Stockport Coroners' Court heard. Neuropathology expert Dr Daniel Du Plessis told the court: "I'm quite convinced his heading the football that many times has caused his CTE [chronic traumatic encephalopathy]." Senior Coroner Alison Mulch recorded the cause of death as Alzheimer's disease, contributed to by CTE, along with another neurodegenerative condition and cerebrovascular disease. Nobby Stiles (right) was part of England's 1966 World Cup winning team
Published: July 15, 2026 4:15 pm
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