1966 England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles died ‘with traumatic brain injury’ | UK | News

England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles died with a traumatic brain injury, a court heard, as a coroner ruled an inquest into his death must be held. Stiles, 78, a former Manchester United footballer and 1966 World Cup winner, died with the injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which has been associated with head traumas.

Chris Morris, area coroner for Greater Manchester South, told Stockport Coroner’s Court that a brain expert had examined samples and medical records. Due to the injury, the court heard a full inquest would be required. Norbert “Nobby” Stiles, born in Manchester in 1942, was a tough-tackling defensive midfielder, capped 28 times by England and played nearly 400 times for Man Utd.

He died in October 2020 after a long illness. His family has since campaigned for football authorities to do more to help ex-players cope with injuries they claim were caused during their playing days.

Mr Morris told the court that, “for reasons not entirely clear to me”, Stiles’s death was not at the time reported to the coroner’s office for investigation, which had only begun after information provided by the ex-footballer’s family.

The coroner said Stiles’s brain had been examined by neuropathology expert, Dr Daniel du Plessis.

Following examination and review of Stiles’s medical records, Dr Du Plessis expressed the opinion Stiles’s cause of death was Alzheimer’s disease.

But he also said his death was contributed to by high-stage chronic traumatic encephalophathy (CTE) along with what was described as “stage three limbic predominant age related TDP-43” and small vessel cerebrovascular disease.

Mr Morris said: “On the basis of that cause of death, particularly the inclusion of a traumatic injury included in the cause of death, I’m satisfied an inquest is required into the sad death of Mr Stiles.”

The coroner said a full inquest hearing will be held on Wednesday next week, July 15, at the same court.