Backing as Celtic legend McNeill battles dementia
THE football world has voiced its support for Celtic legend Billy McNeill after his wife revealed his ongoing battle with dementia.
In a series of emotional interviews yesterday, McNeill’s wife Liz, 73, confirmed the footballer was diagnosed with the degenerative brain illness seven years ago and now struggles to speak and communicate effectively.
Former Hoops captain, McNeill, 76, was the first Briton to lift the European Cup after a 2-1 win over Inter Milan in Lisbon in 1967 and also led Celtic to nine successive league titles and won seven Scottish Cups and six League Cups, before having two spells as manager.
Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell paid tribute to McNeill and his wife, who now cares for him in their home in Newton Mearns.
He said: “He is a very special man and everyone at Celtic will continue to give Billy and his family every support.”
There was also an outpouring of support from fans on Twitter, making the footballer’s name a trending topic on Sunday morning.
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan described McNeill’s wife as a “pillar of strength” and said: “We should cherish people like Billy and any young professional can find no better example to emulate as a player and a person.”
Liz revealed a reason behind the revelation was to highlight the need for more research in the link between headers in football and the effects on the brain.
It comes after the Evening Times revealed that fellow player Jim Brogan is also suffering from dementia, and has been for the last decade.
Jim’s daughter Collette said she was “100 per cent convinced” her dad’s condition was related to his career as a professional footballer.
Earlier this month a study from University College London found a possible link between heading balls and dementia, while the University of Stirling last year found “small but significant” impact on the brain of players heading balls.
The Scottish FA said it was working with partners at UK and world level to examine current scientific evidence around the issue of heading balls.