Former Manchester City star Ian Mellor has sadly passed away at the age of 74 after a long battle with illness.
The ex-winger, who also played for teams like Norwich and Brighton, died this morning. Mellor’s son, Neil, who is a former player for Liverpool and West Ham and now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, announced the news on social media.
Neil revealed that his father had been battling amyloidosis, a rare disease that affects organs and has no cure. He posted a heartfelt message on Twitter, expressing his devastation at the loss of his father and thanking the staff at St Ann’s Hospice for their support during his father’s final days.
Tributes poured in for Ian Mellor from various figures in the football world, including Neil’s former teammate Jamie Carragher and fans who remembered Mellor as a talented footballer and a true gentleman. Mellor had a successful career, starting with Manchester City in 1970 and later playing for clubs like Norwich, Brighton, Chester City, Sheffield Wednesday, and Bradford City.
His son, Neil, followed in his father’s footsteps and had a successful playing career before transitioning into a role as a pundit for Sky Sports. Neil scored 43 goals in 150 games for Preston before retiring due to a knee injury in 2012. He now appears regularly on Sky Sports shows like Soccer Saturday.
Amyloidosis, the disease that Ian Mellor battled, is a rare condition where a protein called amyloid builds up in the body and affects organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver. While there is no cure for amyloidosis, treatments are available to help manage symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, and swelling.
The passing of Ian Mellor is a loss to the football community, but his legacy as a talented player and a beloved father lives on. Our thoughts are with Neil Mellor and his family during this difficult time.
