Jimmy Calderwood dies aged 69 after Scottish football legend’s dementia battle

Jimmy Calderwood, the former Aberdeen and Dunfermline manager, was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2017 and decided to go public with his condition

Former Aberdeen and Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood has died at the age of 69.

Calderwood, who retired after a very brief spell at Dutch club De Graafschap in 2014, was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2017.

Calderwood made his name with the Pars, whom he led to their highest ever position of fourth in the Scottish Premier League in 2004, as well as the Scottish Cup final.

He moved to Pittodrie later that same year, where his five-year reign included a famous 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup in 2008. The Dons led the tributes, writing on X: “Everyone at Aberdeen FC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former manager Jimmy Calderwood.”

Glasgow-born Calderwood signed his first professional contract with Birmingham and spent eight years at St Andrew’s between 1972 and 1980 before moving on to spend a decade in the Netherlands.

After moving into management abroad, he returned to Scotland to spend five successful years with Dunfermline, and after leaving Aberdeen he also had briefer spells at Kilmarnock and Ross County.

Calderwood was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2017 and decided to go public about his condition in a bid to raise awareness.

He told the BBC : “I can have a moan, as many of my players would say, but I’ve had a wonderful life in football. I’ve seen great places, travelled the world.”

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