| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher John Nicholl | ||
| Date of birth | 12 October 1946[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Wilmslow, England | ||
| Date of death | 24 February 2024 (aged 77) | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1963–1965 | Burnley | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1965–1966 | Burnley | 0 | (0) |
| 1966–1968 | Witton Albion | ||
| 1968–1969 | Halifax Town | 42 | (3) |
| 1969–1972 | Luton Town | 97 | (6) |
| 1972–1977 | Aston Villa | 210 | (11) |
| 1977–1983 | Southampton | 228 | (8) |
| 1983–1984 | Grimsby Town | 70 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1974–1983 | Northern Ireland | 51 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1985–1991 | Southampton | ||
| 1994–1997 | Walsall | ||
| 1998–2000 | Northern Ireland (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Christopher John Nicholl (12 October 1946 – 24 February 2024) was a professional footballer who later worked as a coach and manager.
A centre-back, Nicholl began his playing career at Burnley, but moved to Witton Albion after failing to break into the Burnley team. After spells at Halifax Town and Luton Town, he joined Aston Villa in 1972, winning the Football League Cup in 1975 and 1977. After five years at Aston Villa, Nicholl joined Southampton. In 1983, he joined Grimsby Town before retiring in 1984.
Born in England, Nicholl made 51 appearances for the Northern Ireland national team scoring three goals. He was part of the Northern Ireland squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.[2]
In his managerial career, Nicholl began at Southampton and spent six seasons at the club before being dismissed in 1991. Three years later, he managed Walsall and got promoted from Division Three in his first season in charge, but quit in 1997. He spent two years as assistant manager of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2000.