Dean Windass: Ex-Premier League star and Hull City legend diagnosed with dementia | OneFootball

Windass’ diagnosis was revealed by former Manchester United defender David May on BBC Breakfast

Former Premier League star and Hull City legend Dean Windass is dealing with stage 2 dementia.

"He's been diagnosed with Stage 2 dementia. He's the same age as me and he's worried sick of how it's going to be in the future for him.”

Windass’ diagnosis had not previously been made public, but taking to social media afterwards May said on X: “FYI i spoke to @DWindass10 last night and asked his permission, he was 100% behind me mentioning that he had been diagnosed with stage 2 dementia, Deano has just done an article for a national newspaper which will be published soon.. share the love.”

Windass received an outpouring of support and later wrote on his own X account: “Seriously I am ok was delighted to find out I had a brain... just hope other families get the help what they want for the people they have lost.”

Windass had a long playing career as a forward that began in the early 1990s and included two spells with hometown club Hull, whom he fired into the Premier League for the very first time with a now iconic winning goal against Bristol City in the 2008 Championship play-off final at Wembley.

He also had two stints at Bradford and played for the likes of Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Aberdeen, Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham and Darlington, where he ended his career as player-assistant before retiring for the first time in 2009 at the age of 40 having scored 200 goals in 639 total appearances in England and the Scottish Premier League, plus 30 more in domestic cups competitions.

Windass - whose son Josh is also a footballer who currently plays for Sheffield Wednesday after spells with Rangers, Wigan and Accrington Stanley - came out of retirement to play for semi-professional side Barton Town in 2010 and also briefly represented Scarborough Athletic.

Windass - who also previously served as a club ambassador for Hull - spoke bravely and openly about his struggles after retiring from professional football, revealing in 2012 that he twice attempted suicide after battling depression.