Liverpool great Terry McDermott diagnosed with dementia
Midfielder says the number of former players with dementia or Alzheimer’s is frightening
Bengaluru — Terry McDermott, one of Liverpool’s greatest midfielders, has been diagnosed with dementia, the Premier League club said late on Saturday.
McDermott helped the Merseyside club win four league titles, three European Cups, a Uefa Cup and two League Cups from 1974 to 1982. He was also named Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year in 1980.
The 69-year-old, who played 25 times for England, said in a club statement he is in the early stages of Lewy Body dementia after hospital tests.
“I’ve got to get on with it and I will,” McDermott said. “It’s the way I’ve been brought up. Nothing has come to me easily. I’m not frightened of taking it on and also, as we’ve seen, there are a lot of former players in a worse state than me.
“Battling is second nature. The worst thing was, until my condition was diagnosed you don’t know what’s going on. The number of former players being diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s is frightening.”
McDermott’s announcement comes after Manchester United and Scotland great Denis Law said on Thursday he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.
Law’s former United teammate and England World Cup winner Bobby Charlton was also diagnosed with the condition in November 2020.
Reuters