- England National Teams
Imran Sherwani
Hockey legend and Olympic gold medallist Imran Sherwani has sadly passed away and will be greatly missed by the hockey community.
The father-of-three was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s in December 2019, aged 57.
He was famous for scoring two goals in the final as Great Britain’s men’s hockey team won gold at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
His second goal and Britain’s third in the 3-1 win over West Germany led to the iconic ‘Where were the Germans?’ line from BBC commentator Barry Davies.
Imran announced his Alzheimer’s diagnosis publicly in 2021, ahead of a team running the London Marathon for Alzheimer’s Research UK in his honour. The team, which was led by his former team-mate and fellow gold medallist Steve Batchelor and included Imran’s sons Zac and Aaron, raised over £45,000.
In 2022, England Hockey hosted 'Orange for Imran' during that season's London Pro League to raise awareness for Alzheimer's Research UK and the men's team had the logo on the front of their shirt.
Imran’s family have continued to raise awareness of young onset dementia to help other families.
In a statement, the Sherwani family said: "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Imran Sherwani, beloved husband, dad, grandad, brother and son.
“Whilst many knew him for his sporting achievements, to us he was a devoted family man whose warmth, humour, and kindness touched everyone who knew him. Imran will be profoundly missed, but his legacy will remain with us always.
“We kindly ask for privacy as we grieve together and remember the remarkable man he was."
England Hockey CEO Rich Beer said: "Imran Sherwani will forever be remembered as one of the true icons of England and Great Britain Hockey. His talent, leadership and humility inspired generations of players and fans alike.
"Beyond his achievements on the pitch, Imran was a remarkable person whose kindness and passion enriched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. On behalf of England and Great Britain Hockey, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and teammates. His legacy will continue to shape our sport for years to come."