An inquest has heard the Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw died from a severe head injury as a result of a fall.
The 63-year-old had been out drinking with friends on 5 September and was found by a neighbour, collapsed on the pavement outside his home, at 01:20 GMT on 6 September, the court heard.
The former striker was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he died from his injury on 16 September.
Senior coroner Louise Hunt returned a verdict of accidental death at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court.
Shaw came through the youth ranks at his boyhood club and went on to score 79 goals in 213 games for Villa.