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The centre-back played 184 times for Manchester United between 1978 and 1985.
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He also played for Leeds United and represented Scotland on 30 occasions.
Death
Sadly, McQueen died from complications caused by a combination of vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at his home on June 15, 2023, at the age of just 70.
Survey
The Athletic reports that “an investigation has found that repeatedly heading a soccer ball ‘probably’ contributed to the brain disease that contributed to Gordon McQueen’s death.”
Coroner Jonathan Heath told the BBC: “I found that Mr McQueen suffered repetitive impacts to the head during his career. I am convinced that, considering the probability, repeatedly heading footballs contributed to him developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).”
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He continued: “The combination of CTE and vascular dementia caused pneumonia. I find that the cause of death was pneumonia, vascular dementia and CTE. It is likely that repetitive impacts to the head, sustained by heading the ball while playing soccer, contributed to the CTE.”
Before his death, McQueen had approved the study of his brain by Professor Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Stewart has led extensive research into the connection between football and brain diseases.
Other cases
Manchester United legends Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles also had to deal with dementia at the end of their lives, with statistics showing that former footballers are four times more likely to develop the disease than the general population.
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As a result of numerous findings, the FA recommends that no children under the age of 12 practice heading during training.
In addition, “the PFA and the Premier League launched their own brain health fund in 2023, making an initial £1 million available to support former players and their families when they are found to be suffering from dementia and neurodegenerative conditions.”
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