TEARS ROLL DOWN AS ASTON VILLA MOURN HER STAR PLAYER{RIP}
WHAT A DAMNING NEWS: Former club Walsall has revealed that Chris Nicholl, the captain of Aston Villa and winner of the League Cup, passed away at the age of 30. Unai Emery reportedly confirmed his death this morning.
Before taking over the Saddlers, Nicholl played for Southampton and then managed the team. He said that his dementia was brought on by brain damage he sustained by heading balls so many times throughout his long career.
The former central defender’s death was announced in a statement on Walsall’s official X account, which read: “We are devastated to learn that former manager Chris Nicholl has died.” Chris captained the Saddlers from 1994 to 1997, winning promotion to Division Two in a remarkable 1994-95 season. Our sympathies are with his family and friends during this extremely difficult time.”
Nicholl, who was born in Wilmslow and was capped 51 times by Northern Ireland, including at the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain, started his career with Burnley but went on to play over 200 games for Villa and the Saints. He also appeared 42 times for Halifax, 97 times for Luton Town, and finished his playing career with Grimsby.
A solid defender, he notably scored a 40-yard piledriver when Villa won the 1977 League Cup in a 3-2 second-round replay triumph over Everton at Old Trafford.
Nicholl took up management at the Dell when he was named Lawrie McMenemy’s replacement in the summer of 1985, and he was responsible for promoting Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier, and Rod Wallace to the first team.
He was fired in May 1991 and spent three years out of football before being hired by Walsall, and he then served as Northern Ireland’s assistant manager during McMenemy’s reign.
A statement on the Irish FA’s X account read: “We are devastated to learn of Chris Nicholl’s demise. He made 51 appearances for us, including the 1982 World Cup in Spain. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
He was fired in May 1991 and spent three years out of football before being hired by Walsall, and he then served as Northern Ireland’s assistant manager during McMenemy’s reign.
A statement on the Irish FA’s X account read: “We are devastated to learn of Chris Nicholl’s demise. He made 51 appearances for us, including the 1982 World Cup in Spain. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
