Gordon McQueen’s brain injury linked to heading footballs

Gordon McQueen, former Scotland defender and centre-back for Manchester United and Leeds, died at 70 due to pneumonia linked to mixed vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), as ruled by a coroner. The inquest highlighted that repetitive head impacts from heading the ball likely contributed to his CTE. McQueen, who made nearly 350 appearances and earned 30 caps for Scotland, had previously acknowledged the impact of heading on his health. Following his playing career, he transitioned into management and coaching roles.

Want More Context? 🔎