From the legendary Edson Arandes Do Nascimento Pele, to Bill Russell, legend of Boston Celtics and NBA basketball, and from the great Paco Hedo, six-time European champion with Real Madrid, to Patrick Tabe, former Formula 1 driver, she is the list of the biggest sports personalities around the world who “passed away” in 2022:
JANUARY
1: Vadim Kamutskikh52, Russian volleyball player, world champion and three-time Olympic champion.
18: Paco Hedo88, Spanish player for Real Madrid between 1953 and 1971, the only player in history to win six European Cups.
19: Lucia Harris66, the only woman officially drafted by an all-male NBA team, the New Orleans Jazz in 1977.
19: Peter Robinson86, secretary and then general manager of Liverpool from 1965 to 2000, during which the Reds won 29 titles and trophies.
24: Sylvester Cholani51, Hungarian gymnast, double Olympic medalist in 2000 in Sydney.
25: Wim Jansen75, Dutch international soccer player, double World Cup finalist in 1974 and 1978, icon of Feyenoord Rotterdam where he served as coach, technical director and consultant after an illustrious career.
29: Guy Laporte69, former international, 1987 Rugby World Cup finalist with France XV.
FEBRUARY
10: Jean-Henri Jager77, surgeon, who had operated on football’s elite.
14: Eduardo Romero67, Argentinian golfer, winner of eight titles on the European circuit and more than 80 titles in South America.
MARCH
4: Marian Wisnieski85, hero of the Blues’ 1958 World Cup epic alongside Raymond Kopa and Jist Fontaine.
19: Federico Martoin Araburou42, former Argentine rugby international, killed after brawl in Paris.
APRIL
14: Freddy Rincon55, a soccer star in Colombia, part of the golden generation that qualified for three consecutive World Cups, was killed in a car accident.
15: Jack Newton72, former Australian golf champion.
15: Mike Bossy65, NHL (hockey) champion four consecutive years with the New York Islanders from 1980 to 1983, one of the league’s leading scorers.
16: Joachim Streich71, former East German striker, top scorer in GDR history, nicknamed “Gertn Miller of the East”.
22: Guy Lefebvre70, Canadian NHL (hockey) legend, legendary player of Montreal Canadiens, winner of five Stanley Cups, nicknamed “blonde demon”.
30: Mino Raiola54, famous manager of players including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland.
MAY
9: Adrian Payne31, American basketball player, passed through the US college championship and the NBA, was killed by a gunshot.
11: Bob liner73, former Detroit Pistons center, Hall of Famer, eight-time All-Star Game selection.
18: Fauzi Mansouri66, Algerian former professional footballer.
29: Letter Pigott86, is considered one of the greatest jockeys of all time, nicknamed the “Long Fellow,” winner of 4,493 races, including nine editions of the Epsom Derby.
JUNE
8: Julio Jimenez87, cycling legend, three times best in Tour de France and Vuelta.
12: Brent Branch77, former East German soccer team captain, 1976 Montreal Olympic medalist.
12: Phil Bennett73, Wales captain in the 1970s.
24: Alain Platnefoll79, former XV France and Agen second line, 1968 Grand Slam winner.
JULY
2: Andy Gorham58, goalkeeper, Rangers legend.
13: Marcel Remy99, mountaineer, top of his sport in Switzerland and one of the oldest active mountaineers in the world.
21: Uwe Zeller85, one of the greatest figures of post-war German football.
31: Bill Russell88, American basketball legend, 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, including two titles as a player-coach, 1956 Olympic gold medalist.
August
10: Fernando Chalana63, midfielder for Benfica Lisbon, Bordeaux and the Portuguese national team.
22: Tom Weiskopf79, American golfer, winner of the 1973 British Open.
25: Hernan van Springel79, Belgian cyclist, seven-time winner of the classic Bordeaux-Paris, Belgian champion in 1971.
SEPTEMBER
2: Ernie Sievers, 78, American heavyweight boxer, defeated by Muhammad Ali and then Larry Holmes for a world title.
30: Luis Quinones25, Colombian boxer victim of head injury during a match.
OCTOBER
1: Antonio Icon79, famous Japanese wrestler-turned-legislator.
6: Phil Reed83, motorcycle rider, seven-time world champion including twice in the premier class in 1973 and 1974.
22: Masato Kunto32, Japanese international striker, died of complications following brain surgery.
NOVEMBER
11: Henri England89, French cyclist, second in the 1959 Tour de France, nicknamed ‘Napoleon’.
16: Johan Hamel42, a referee who has officiated almost 250 professional matches, including 136 in Ligue 1 as first official.
17: Alexander Gorskov76, first Olympic medalist in ice dancing, president of the Russian Figure Skating Federation.
26: Fernando Gomez66, Portuguese footballer, two-time Golden Boot winner in the 1980s and top scorer in Porto’s history.
DECEMBER
4: Father Tabe73, French Formula One driver in the 1970s and 1980s for McLaren and Ferrari with two wins.
5: Nick Bollettieri91, former tennis coach who notably trained Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova.
29: Edson Arantes Do Nasimeno “Pele”, 82, the greatest footballer to ever grace Brazilian football and the only player to win three World Cups in his incredible career.
Source: RES-MPE
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
