Athletes and Sports Stars Who Died in 2021

Deaths 1 - 200 of 443

Tommy Lasorda (1927-2021)

Jan 7 American Baseball Hall of Fame manager (World Series 1981, 88; NL Manager of the Year 1983, 88; LA Dodgers 1976-96), dies of a heart attack at 93 [1]

Jan 7 Vladimir Kiselyov, Ukranian-Soviet athlete (Olympic gold, 1980- shot put), dies at 64
Jan 8 Shirley Wilson, American football coach (Elon University 1967-76; Duke University 1979-82; 88–61–3), dies at 95
Jan 9 Vivalyn Latty-Scott, West Indian women's cricket all-rounder (10 Tests, 25 wickets; Jamaica), dies at 82
Jan 10 Dee Rowe, American college basketball coach (UConn Huskies men's team 1969-76; 103–78 [.569]), dies at 91
Jan 10 Donald Smith, English cricket batsman (3 Tests, 1 wicket; Sussex CCC), dies at 97
Jan 10 Hubert Auriol, French off-road motorcyclist and auto racer (Dakar Rally 1981, 83, 92), dies from COVID-19 at 68
Jan 11 Colin McDonald, Australian cricket batsman (47 Tests, 5 x 100s; Victoria), dies at 92
Jan 11 Kathleen Heddle, Canadian rower (Olympic gold coxless pair, 8's 1992; double sculls 1996), dies from breast and lymph node cancer at 55
Jan 11 Wálter Taibo, Uruguayan soccer goalkeeper (30 caps; Huracán, C.A. Peñarol), dies at 89
Jan 12 Álvaro Mejía, Colombian athlete (Boston Marathon 1971 2:18:45), dies at 80
Jan 12 Frank Arok, Yugoslavian-Australian soccer coach (Australia 1983-89), dies at 88
Jan 12 John Ward, New Zealand cricket wicketkeeper (8 Tests; 17 dismissals), dies at 83
Jan 12 Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud, Saudi thoroughbred racing owner and breeder (Juddmonte Farms; Dancing Brave, Enable, Frankel, Arrogate), dies at 84
Jan 13 Bernd Kannenber, German race walker (Olympic gold FRG 50k 1972), dies at 78
Jan 13 Hannes Viljoen, South African rugby union winger (3 caps; Natal), dies at 77
Jan 13 Joël Robert, Belgian motocross racer (Motocross World C'ships 250cc 1964, 68–72), dies from COVID-19 at 77
Jan 15 Bruce Headley, American thoroughbred horse trainer and owner (Breeders' Cup Sprint 2000 Kona Gold), dies from a stroke at 86
Jan 15 Vicente Cantatore, Argentine soccer manager (Chile, Real Valladolid, Colo Colo, Real Betis, Sevilla, Sporting de Gijón), dies at 85
Jan 16 Jon Arnett, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (USC; 5 × Pro Bowl; LA Rams, Chicago Bears), dies from heart failure at 85

Don Sutton (1945-2021)

Jan 18 American Baseball HOF pitcher (MLB All-Star 1972, 73, 75, 77; MLB ERA leader 1980; LA Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers), dies from cancer at 75 [1]

Jan 20 Peter Swan, English soccer defender (19 caps; Sheffield Wednesday, Bury), dies at 84
Jan 20 Ted Thompson, American NFL linebacker (Houston Oilers) and executive (GM Green Bay Packers 2005-17), dies from autonomic disorder at 68
Jan 21 David Bolton, English rugby league five eighth (23 caps Great Britain; Wigan, Balmain) and coach (Parramatta), dies at 83

Hank Aaron (1934-2021)

Jan 22 American Baseball Hall of Fame right fielder (MLB record 755 HRs; NL MVP 1957; 25 × MLB All-Star; Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers), dies at 86 [1]

Jan 22 Luton Shelton, Jamaican soccer striker (75 caps; Vålerenga, Karabükspor, Sheffield United), dies from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at 35
Jan 22 Nick Drake-Lee, English rugby union prop (8 caps; Leicester Tigers), dies at 78
Jan 22 Tony Jones, American NFL tackle (Super Bowl 1997, 98; Second-team All-Pro 1994; Pro Bowl 1998; Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos), dies at 54
Jan 24 George Armstrong, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame centre (Stanley Cup 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1966–67 Toronto Maple Leafs; 7 x NHL All Star), dies from heart complications at 90
Jan 24 Jóhannes Eðvaldsson, Icelandic soccer defender (34 caps; Celtic, Tulsa Roughnecks, Hannover 96, Motherwell), dies from COVID-19 at 70
Jan 25 Maryan Synakowski, French soccer defender (16 caps; UA Sedan Torcy 241 games), dies at 84
Jan 26 Alan Ashcroft, English rugby union number 8 (16 caps England, 2 caps British & Irish Lions; Waterloo FC), dies at 90
Jan 26 John Mortimore, English soccer defender (Chelsea 249 games) and manager (Portsmouth, Benfica, Real Betis), dies at 86
Jan 26 Jozef Vengloš, Slovak soccer manager (Australia, Czechoslovakia, Malaysia, Fenerbahçe, Aston Villa, Celtic, Slovakia), dies at 84
Jan 26 Margitta Gummel-Helmbold, German track & field athlete (Olympic gold GDR women's shot put 1968), dies at 79
Jan 26 Peter Thorburn, New Zealand rugby union coach (North Harbour, NZ sevens, Bristol RFC, United States), dies at 81
Jan 26 Sekou Smith, American sportswriter (The Clarion-Ledger, The Indianapolis Star, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; NBA TV), dies from COVID-19 at 48
Jan 27 Mehrdad Minavand, Iranian soccer midfielder (67 caps; Persepolis, Sturm Graz), dies from COVID-19 at 45
Jan 28 Eddie Connachan, Scottish soccer goalkeeper (2 caps; Dunfermline Athletic, Middlesbrough, Falkirk), dies at 85
Jan 29 John Chaney, American Basketball Hall of Fame college coach (Cheyney University, Temple University), dies at 89
Jan 29 Yvon Douis, French soccer striker (20 caps; Lille, Le Havre, Monaco, Cannes), dies from COVID-19 at 85
Feb 2 Grant Jackson, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1969; World Series 1979; Philadelphia Phillies; Baltimore Orioles; Pittsburgh Pirates), dies from complications of COVID-19 at 78
Feb 3 Jean-Pierre Bastiat, French rugby union lock (32 Tests; US Dax), dies from a stroke at 71

Tony Trabert (1930-2021)

Feb 3 American tennis player (Wimbledon 1955; US Open 1953, 55; French Open 1954, 55), dies at 90

Feb 5 Charlie Krueger, American College Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle (Texas A&M; Pro Bowl 1960, 64; San Francisco 49ers), dies from heart and kidney failure at 84
Feb 5 John Pullin, English rugby union hooker (42 caps; British Lions 7 caps; Bristol RFC), dies at 79
Feb 5 Joseph Benz, Swiss bobsledder (Olympic gold 2-man 1980; World C'ship gold 4-man 1975; 2-man 1978, 79), dies from COVID-19 at 76
Feb 5 Julio Canani, Peruvian thoroughbred horse racing trainer (Breeders' Cup Mile 1999, 2001; Juvenile Fillies 2004), dies at 82

Leon Spinks (1953-2021)

Feb 5 American boxer (WBC, WBA heavyweight champion 1978; Olympic gold light heavyweight 1976), dies from prostate cancer at 67

Feb 5 Sam Gannon, Australian cricket fast bowler (3 Tests, 11 wickets; Western Australia; Chairman WACA), dies at 73
Feb 6 Bruce Taylor, New Zealand cricket all-rounder (30 Tests, 111 wickets, BB 7/74, 2 x 100, HS 124; Canterbury, Wellington), dies at 77
Feb 6 Ezra Moseley, Barbadian cricket fast bowler (2 Tests; 9 ODIs, West Indies; Barbados; Glamorgan), dies in a road accident at 63
Feb 6 Ken McCaffery, Australian rugby league centre (12 Tests; North Sydney; Queensland), broadcaster (9 Network) and administrator (North Sydney DRLFC), dies at 91
Feb 7 Leslie Laing, Jamaican athlete (Olympic gold men's 4x400m relay 1952 WR 3:03.9), dies at 91
Feb 7 Mario Osbén, Chilean soccer goalkeeper (36 caps; Unión Española, Colo Colo, Cobreloa), dies from a heart attack at 70
Feb 7 Ralph Backstrom, Canadian ice hockey center (6 x Stanley Cup Montreal Canadiens; 6 x NHL All-Star), dies at 83
Feb 8 David Egerton, English rugby union #8 (7 caps; Bath Rugby) and broadcaster (BBC), dies from COVID-19 at 59

Marty Schottenheimer (1943-2021)

Feb 8 American football coach (Cleveland Browns, KC Chiefs; NFL Coach of Year 2004, San Diego Chargers), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 77

Feb 10 Pachín, Spanish soccer defender (8 caps; Real Madrid) and manager (Osasuna, Levante, Granada), dies at 82
Feb 11 Phil Horrocks-Taylor, English rugby union fly half (9 caps England, 1 British & Irish Lions; Leicester Tigers), dies at 86
Feb 13 Frank Orr, Canadian sports author and journalist (Hockey Hall of Fame; Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award; Toronto Star), dies at 84
Feb 13 Yury Vlasov, Ukrainian weightlifter (Olympic gold USSR heavyweight 1960, 64; World C'ship gold x 4) and writer, dies at 85
Feb 14 Doug Mountjoy, Welsh snooker player (Masters 1977; Pot Black 1978, 85; UK C'ship 1988, World C'ship 1981 runner-up), dies at 78
Feb 15 Leopoldo Luque, Argentine soccer striker (43 caps; River Plate), dies from COVID-19 at 71
Feb 15 Vincent Jackson, American NFL wide receiver (Pro Bowl 2009, 11, 12; SD Chargers, TB Buccaneers), dies at 38
Feb 16 Wayne Giardino, Canadian football linebacker (Grey Cup 1968, 69, 73; Ottawa Rough Riders), dies at 77
Feb 17 Gianluigi Saccaro, Italian fencer (Olympic gold épée team 1960; silver épée team 1964; bronze épée 1968), dies at 82
Feb 17 Martí Vergés, Spanish soccer midfielder (12 caps; FC Barcelona), dies at 86
Feb 17 Özcan Arkoç, Turkish soccer goalkeeper (9 caps; Hamburger SV) and manager (Hamburger SV, Hannover 96), dies at 81
Feb 18 Juan Pizarro, Puerto Rican baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1963, 64 Chicago White Sox; World Series 1957 Milwaukee Braves), dies at 84
Feb 20 Mauro Bellugi, Italian soccer defender (32 caps; Inter Milan, Bologna, Napoli), dies from COVID-19 at 71
Feb 20 Stan Williams, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1960²; World Series 1959, 1990 [coach: Cincinnati Reds]; NY Yankees, LA Dodgers), dies from cardio-pulmonary illness at 84
Feb 21 Doug Wilkerson, American football guard (Pro Bowl 1980–82; First-team All-Pro 1982; SD Chargers), dies at 73
Feb 21 Zlatko Saračević, Croatian handball player (145 caps Yugoslavia, 75 Croatia; Olympic gold 1996 Croatia), dies at 59
Feb 23 Art Michalik, American football linebacker / guard (All-Pro 1953; Pro Bowl 1953; San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers), dies at 91
Feb 23 Fausto Gresini, Italian Grand Prix motorcycle racer (125cc World C'ship 1985, 87) and team manager (Aprilia Racing, Gresini MotoGP), dies from COVID-19 at 60
Feb 23 Juan Carlos Masnik, Uruguayan soccer defender (26 caps; NY Skyliners, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, Nacional, NY Cosmos), dies at 77
Feb 23 Tormod Knutsen, Norwegian cross country skier (Olympic gold individual 1964, silver 1960), dies at 89
Feb 24 Atsushi Miyagi, Japanese tennis player (US Open doubles 1955 [with Kosei Kamo] first Japanese players to win a Grand Slam event), dies at 89
Feb 24 Gary Halpin, Irish rugby union prop (11 caps; Wanderers F.C, Leinster, London Irish, Harlequins), dies at 55
Feb 25 Jim Johnson, Australian jockey (Melbourne Cup: Gatum Gatum 1963, Rain Lover 1968, 69), dies at 92
Feb 25 John Geddert, American gymnastics coach (US head coach London Olympic Team 2012), dies from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at 63
Feb 26 Aleksandr Klepikov, Russian rower (Olympic gold Soviet Union coxed four 1976), dies at 70
Feb 26 Hannu Mikkola, Finnish rally driver (World Rally champion 1983), dies from cancer at 78
Feb 28 Glenn Roeder, English soccer defender (QPR, Newcastle United), and manager (Watford, West Ham, Newcastle, Norwich), dies from a brain tumour at 65
Feb 28 Irv Cross, American football cornerback (Pro Bowl 1964, 65; Philadelphia Eagles) and broadcaster (CBS), dies from ischemic cardiomyopathy at 81
Mar 1 Ian St John, Scottish soccer forward (21 caps; Motherwell; Liverpool 425 games), manager (Motherwell, Portsmouth) and broadcaster (ITV: Saint and Greavsie), dies from cancer at 82
Mar 1 Vladimír Heger, Czech basketball coach (Czechoslovakia 1965-69, 72-76; Netherlands 1983-85), dies at 89
Mar 1 Zlatko Kranjčar, Croatian soccer striker (2 caps; Dinamo Zagreb, Rapid Wien) and manager (Croatia, Montenegro, Dinamo Zagreb), dies at 64
Mar 2 Peter Grosser, German soccer midfielder (2 caps; Bayern Munich, 1860 Munich, Austria Salzburg), dies at 82
Mar 3 Joe Altobelli, American baseball utility (Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins) and manager (SF Giants, World Series Baltimore Orioles 1983, Chicago Cubs), dies at 88
Mar 4 Chris Schultz, Canadian football offensive tackle (NFL Dallas Cowboys; CFL All Star 1987, 88; Toronto Argonauts) and sportscaster (The Sports Network), dies from a heart attack at 61
Mar 4 Mark Pavelich, American ice hockey forward (Olympic gold 1980 'Miracle on Ice'; NY Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, San Jose Sharks), dies at 63
Mar 6 Bengt Åberg, Swedish motocross racer (World 500cc Motocross Champion 1969, 70; Motocross des Nations gold 1970, 71, 74), dies at 76
Mar 6 Chi Shangbin, Chinese soccer midfielder (58 caps; Liaoning) and coach (Dalian Wanda: Chinese Jia-A League champions & Coach of the Year 1996, 97), dies from a heart attack at 71
Mar 6 Miguel Miranda, Peruvian soccer goalkeeper (47 caps; Sporting Cristal) and coach (Alianza Atlético), dies at 54
Mar 8 Norm Sherry, American baseball catcher (Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets) and manager (California Angels), dies at 89
Mar 8 Rhéal Cormier, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (St. Louis Cardinals; Philadelphia Phillies; Boston Red Sox), dies of pancreatic cancer at 53 [1]
Mar 9 Agustín Balbuena, Argentine soccer striker (8 caps; Copa Libertadores 1972, 73, 74, 75; Copa Intercontinental 1973; Club Atlético Independiente), dies at 75
Mar 9 Tommy Troelsen, Danish soccer striker (16 caps; Vejle Boldklub) and broadcaster (Danmarks Radio, dk4), dies at 80
Mar 10 Joe Tait, American sports broadcaster (Cleveland Cavaliers [radio], Cleveland Indians [TV & radio]), dies at 83
Mar 12 Ivo Trumbić, Croatian water polo player (Olympic gold 1968 Yugoslavia) and coach (Olympic bronze Netherlands 1976), dies at 85
Mar 13 'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler, American boxer (undisputed World Middleweight champion 1980-87; second-longest unified C'ship reign in history), dies at 66
Mar 13 Murray Walker, English motorsport commentator and journalist (Formula 1: BBC 1976-96, ITV 1997-2001), dies at 97
Mar 16 Erhan Önal, Turkish soccer central defender (12 caps; FC Bayern Munich, Standard Liège, Galatasaray), dies at 63
Mar 16 Sabine Schmitz, German professional motor racing driver, and television personality (Top Gear), dies of cancer at 51
Mar 20 Peter Lorimer, Scottish soccer midfielder (21 caps; Leeds United 526 games), dies at 74
Mar 21 Jeff Grayshon, English rugby league utility (England 11 caps; GB 13 caps; Dewsbury, Cronulla-Sutherland, Bradford Northern, Leeds, Featherstone Rovers, Batley), dies at 72

Elgin Baylor (1934-2021)

Mar 22 American Basketball Hall of Fame small forward (11 x NBA All Star; NBA All-Star Game MVP 1959; Minneapolis/LA Lakers), dies at 86

Mar 22 Frank Worthington, English soccer forward (8 caps; Huddersfield Town, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers) and manager (Tranmere Rovers), dies at 72
Mar 23 Benny Dees, American college basketball coach (U of New Orleans; U of Wyoming; Western Carolina Uni), dies at 86
Mar 23 Julié Pomagalski, French snowboarder (World C'ship gold snowboard cross 1999), dies in an avalanche at 40
Mar 24 Bob Plager, Canadian ice hockey defenceman (St. Louis Blues 1969-77) and coach (St. Louis Blues 1992), dies from a heart attack at 78
Mar 24 Toshihiko Koga, Japanese judoka (Olympic gold - 71kgs 1992; silver 1996), dies at 53
Mar 25 Bobby Brown, American baseball third baseman (NY Yankees; World Series 1947, 49–51) and executive (president American League 1984-94), dies at 96
Mar 25 Joe Cunningham, American baseball utility (MLB All Star 1959, 59²; St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators), dies at 89
Mar 25 Stan Albeck, American basketball coach (Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls), dies from a stroke at 89
Mar 26 Ursula Happe, German swimmer (Olympic gold 200m backstroke 1956), dies at 94
Mar 27 Derek Ufton, English soccer defender (1 cap; Charlton Athletic), manager (Plymouth Argyle) and cricket wicketkeeper (Kent), dies at 92
Mar 27 Howard Schnellenberger, American football coach (National C'ship Uni of Miami 1983; Uni of Oklahoma, Uni of Louisville, Florida Atlantic Uni; Baltimore Colts), dies at 87
Mar 27 Todd Kabel, Canadian jockey (Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey 1992, 95, 2003-06; Queen's Plate 1995, 2000; Prince of Wales Stakes 2000, 07), dies at 55
Mar 29 Bibian Mentel-Spee, Dutch para-snowboarding athlete (Winter Paralympics gold snowboard cross 2014, 18; banked slalom 2018; 5 x gold World C'ship), dies from cancer at 48
Mar 29 Jerry McGee, American golfer (US Ryder Cup 1977, 4 PGA Tour titles), dies at 77
Mar 31 Ken Reitz, American baseball third baseman (MLB All Star 1980; Gold Glove Award 1975; St. Louis Cardinals), dies at 69
Mar 31 Ron Greene, American college basketball coach (Uni of New Orleans, Mississippi State, Murray State, Indiana State), dies at 82
Apr 2 Valentin Afonin, Russian soccer defender (42 caps; SKA Rostov-on-Don, CSKA Moscow), dies at 81
Apr 3 Yevgeniy Zagorulko, Russian high jump coach (Andrey Silnov, Yelena Yelesina, Anna Chicherova), dies of COVID-19 at 78
Apr 7 Doug Holden, English soccer winger (5 caps; Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End), dies at 90
Apr 7 Tommy Raudonikis, Australian rugby league halfback (20 Tests; Rothmans Medal 1972; Wests, Newtown) and coach (Wests, NSW), dies from cancer at 70
Apr 7 Viktor Kurentsov, Belarusian weightlifter (Olympic gold middleweight 1968; silver 1964; 5 x World C'ship gold middleweight), dies at 80
Apr 8 Conn Findlay, American rower (Olympic gold coxed pair 1956, 64) and sailor (Olympic bronze Tempest 1976), dies at 90
Apr 8 Diána Igaly, Hungarian sport shooter (Olympic gold women's skeet 2004; bronze 2000), dies from COVID-19 at 56
Apr 9 Ekkehard Fasser, Swiss bobsledder (Olympic gold, four-man 1988; World C'ship gold 1983; World Cup champion 1985-86), dies at 68
Apr 11 Colin Baker, Welsh soccer wing half (7 caps; Cardiff City 298 games), dies at 86
Apr 11 Marco Bollesan, Italian rugby union number 8 (47 caps; CUS Genova, Partenope) and coach (Italy 1985-88), dies at 79
Apr 11 Massimo Cuttitta, Italian rugby union prop (69 caps [captain 16]; Milano, Harlequins, Bologna), dies from COVID-19 at 54
Apr 13 Bobby Leonard, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (ABA C'ship 1970, 72, 73; Indiana Pacers) & point guard (Minneapolis/LA Lakers, Chicago Packers/Zephyrs), dies at 88
Apr 15 Leroy Keyes, American College Football Hall of Fame and NFL running back / safety (Purdue; Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs), dies from heart failure at 74
Apr 16 John Dawes, Welsh rugby union centre (22 caps Wales, 4 caps British & Irish Lions; London Welsh; Barbarians), dies at 80
Apr 16 Johnny Peirson, Canadian ice hockey right wing (NHL All Star 1950, 51; Boston Bruins) and broadcaster (WBZ and WSBK), dies at 95
Apr 16 Serhiy Novikov, Russian judoka (Olympic gold heavyweight 1976), dies at 71
Apr 17 Fred Arbanas, American football tight end (All-AFL 1962–67; Super Bowl 1970; Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs), dies at 82
Apr 19 Monica Bandini, Italian racing cyclist (World Championship gold women's team time trial 1988), dies from a heart attack at 56
Apr 19 Willy van der Kuijlen, Dutch soccer forward (22 caps; PSV 528 games), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 74
Apr 21 Håkon Brusveen, Norwegian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 15 km, silver 4 × 10 km relay 1960), dies at 93
Apr 23 Bill Whittington, American auto racer (24 Hours of Le Mans 1979), dies in a plane crash at 71
Apr 24 John T. Ward Jr., American racehorse trainer (Kentucky Derby 2001 Monarchos; Breeders' Cup Distaff 1999 Beautiful Pleasure), dies at 75
Apr 25 John Konrads, Australian swimmer (Olympic gold 1500m freestyle, bronze 400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle 1960; 26 individual world records), dies at 78
Apr 26 Dick Mann, American motorcycle racer (A.M.A. Grand National C'ship 1963, 71; Motorcycle Hall of Fame 1998), dies at 86
Apr 26 Tamara Press, Soviet athlete (Olympic gold shot put 1960, 64; discus 1960, 64), dies at 83
Apr 29 Courtney Hall, American NFL center (San Diego Chargers), dies at 52
Apr 29 Zhang Enhua, Chinese soccer defender (65 caps; Dalian Wanda FC, Grimsby Town), dies from cardiac arrest at 48
May 1 Al Jamison, American football offensive lineman (AFL All Star 1961, 62; AFL C'ship 1960, 61; Houston Oilers), dies at 83

Bobby Unser (1934-2021)

May 2 American auto racer (Indianapolis 500 1968, 1975, 1981; USAC C'ship 1968, 1974), dies at 87

May 3 Rafael Albrecht, Argentine soccer defender (39 caps; San Lorenzo, Club León), dies from COVID-19 at 79
May 4 Alan McLoughlin, Irish soccer midfielder (42 caps Rep of Ireland; Swindon Town, Portsmouth), dies from cancer at 54
May 4 Bertil Johansson, Swedish soccer striker (5 caps; IFK Göteborg 267 games) and manager (IFK Göteborg), dies at 86
May 4 Margaret Forsyth, New Zealand netball goal attack (NZ 1979-87; World Cup gold 1979, 87) and coach (Waikato BOP Magic), dies from cancer at 59
May 4 Ray Miller, American baseball manager (Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles), dies at 76
May 5 Del Crandall, American baseball catcher (11 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1957; 4 × Gold Glove Award; Boston/Milwaukee Braves) and manager (Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners), dies at 91
May 6 Carlos Timoteo Griguol, Argentine soccer midfielder (Atlanta, Rosario Central) and manager (Ferro Carril Oeste, Real Betis, River Plate), dies from COVID-19 at 84
May 7 Martín Pando, Argentine soccer forward (11 caps; Argentinos Juniors, River Plate), dies at 86
May 8 Georgi Dimitrov, Bulgarian soccer centre-back (77 caps; CSKA Sofia, Saint-Étienne), dies from cancer at 62
May 10 Néstor Montelongo, Uruguayan soccer utility (36 caps; Montevideo Wanderers, Peñarol, Nacional, Racing), dies at 66
May 12 Higinio Vélez, Cuban baseball manager (Olympic gold 2004; Santiago de Cuba, Cuban National Series 1999–2001), dies from COVID-19 at 73
May 12 Jerry Burns, American football coach (University of Iowa 1961-65; Minnesota Vikings 1986-91), dies at 94
May 13 Nelson Marcenaro, Uruguayan soccer defender (8 caps; Mundialito 1980; Progreso, Portuguesa, Peñarol, Emelec), dies from a heart attack at 68
May 14 Olga Domuladzhanova, Russian boxer (World amateur heavyweight gold 2001), dies from COVID-19 at 52
May 14 Torkild Brakstad, Norwegian soccer defender (3 caps; Molde) and coach (Molde, Tromsø, Rosenborg), dies at 75
May 15 Fred Martinelli, American College Football Hall of Fame coach (Ashland University 1959-93), dies at 92
May 16 Rildo da Costa Menezes, Brazilian soccer defender (38 caps; Santos, CEUB, New York Cosmos), dies at 79
May 17 Héctor Silva, Argentine rugby union number 8 (24 caps; Los Tilos) and coach (Argentina 1985-87), dies from COVID-19 at 76
May 17 Joe Mercer, English thoroughbred race horse jockey (British flat racing Champion Jockey 1979), dies at 86
May 18 Arthur Hills, American golf course designer (designed and renovated more than 200 new courses), dies at 91
May 18 Rennie Stennett, Panamanian baseball infielder (World Series 1979; SF Giants; one of 3 players to collect 7 hits in a MLB game), dies from cancer at 70
May 19 Lee Evans, American athlete (Olympic gold men's 400m, 4x400m relay 1968), dies from stroke complications at 74
May 20 Sándor Puhl, Hungarian soccer referee (1994 FIFA World Cup Final; 1997 UEFA Champions League Final; IFFHS World's Best Referee 1994-97), dies at 65
May 23 Bob Fulton, Australian rugby league five eighth (35 Tests; Manly, Warrington, Easts; RL "Immortal") and coach (39 Tests Australia; Manly, Easts), dies from cancer at 73
May 23 Max Mosley, British auto racer and lawyer (President Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile [FIA] 1993-2009), dies from cancer at 81
May 23 Ron Hill, British athlete (Boston Marathon, 1970; Commonwealth Games marathon gold, 1970), dies at 82
May 24 Dmitry Mindiashvili, Soviet and Russian wrestling coach (coach Olympic champions Ivan Yariguin 1972, 76 and Buvaisar Satiev (1992, 96, 2004), dies from pneumonia at 87
May 25 J. D. Roberts, American College Football Hall of Fame guard (University of Oklahoma; Outland Trophy 1953) and coach (New Orleans Saints), dies at 88
May 26 Tarcisio Burgnich, Italian soccer defender (66 caps; Internazionale 358 games) and manager (Como, Genoa), dies at 82
May 28 Mark Eaton, American basketball center (NBA All-Star 1989; NBA Defensive Player of the Year 1985, 89; Utah Jazz), dies after a bicycle accident at 64
May 29 Keith Mullings, American boxer (WBC and lineal light middleweight titles 1998), dies at 53
May 30 Frank Navarro, American college football coach (Williams College, Columbia University, Princeton University), dies at 91
May 30 Jason Dupasquier, Swiss motorcycle racer, dies of injuries incurred in Italian motorcycle Grand Prix at 19
May 31 Colin Appleton, English soccer midfielder (Leicester City 277 games) and manager (Hull City, Swansea City, Exeter City), dies at 85
May 31 Leon Burtnett, American college football coach (Purdue University 1982-86; Big Ten Coach of the Year 1984), dies at 78
May 31 Mike Marshall, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1974, 75; NL Cy Young Award 1974; Montreal Expos, LA Dodgers, Atlanta Braves), dies at 78
Jun 1 Adnan Al Sharqi, Lebanese soccer manager (Lebanon 1974–76, 1987–93, 2006–08; Ansar 11 x league titles), dies from cancer at 79
Jun 1 Vince Promuto, American football guard (Pro Bowl 1963, 64; Washington Redskins), dies of congestive heart failure at 82