Legendary football manager Joe Kinnear, who passed away at the age of 77, left his entire estate to his wife, Bonnie. Probate documents revealed that his £840,000 fortune, reduced to £833,000 after fees and costs, was bequeathed entirely to her.
The former Wimbledon and Newcastle United manager died last April following a long battle with vascular dementia, a condition he was diagnosed with in 2015.
Kinnear's daughter, Russ Duffman, has spoken openly about her belief that repeated heading of the ball during his 11-year football career contributed to his condition. An autopsy confirmed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disorder caused by repeated head injuries that often leads to dementia.
Kinnear’s family donated his brain for research, and Dr. Willie Stewart, a neuropathologist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, confirmed CTE as the cause of his dementia and eventual passing.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Ms. Duffman shared: “Dr. Stewart told us that CTE caused his dementia and death. As a defender, it was from heading the ball. The autopsy gave us clarity but also renewed our anger because it feels like his career ultimately took his life.”
Born in Dublin, Kinnear moved with his family to Watford at the age of seven. After captaining Watford and Hertfordshire Schoolboys, he joined Spurs in 1963 as a promising right-back. Over his career, Kinnear made 258 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, winning the FA Cup, two League Cups, and the UEFA Cup. He also earned 26 caps for the Republic of Ireland.
After retiring at 30 following a season with Brighton, Kinnear pursued coaching and began his managerial career at Al Shabab Al Arabi Club in Dubai. He also coached the national teams of Nepal and India before returning to assist Dave Mackay at Doncaster Rovers.
Kinnear achieved legendary status at Wimbledon, where he became manager in 1992. Under his leadership, the team secured a remarkable sixth-place Premier League finish in the 1993–94 season. His success earned him Premier League Manager of the Month honors three times, with Wimbledon finishing ahead of clubs like Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur.
In 1999, Kinnear stepped down from his role at Wimbledon following a heart attack. He later managed Luton Town, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United, where his famously fiery spell in 2008 marked his return to the Premier League after a four-year hiatus.
Following his death, Kinnear’s family released a heartfelt statement: “We are saddened to announce that Joe passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.”
