The wife of former Scotland captain Gary McAllister has lost her battle against breast cancer, a family spokesman said on Friday.
Mother-of-two Denise died in a Nottingham hospital with her husband at her bedside.
Former Leeds star McAllister gave up his job as player-manager of Coventry City in 2003 to nurse his wife during her illness.
Denise's condition had been thought to be improving, but took a turn for the worse over recent months, according to the spokesman. She was in her late 30s.
In May last year McAllister said her progress was "pretty good", although the battle was "still ongoing".
In August, he was even linked with a return to football as assistant manager at Derby County, although he did not land the job.
The former Liverpool midfielder, 41, had said of his choice to quit Coventry to care for Denise: "As far as I was concerned it wasn't a decision. It was just the natural thing to do; I didn't want to be at a football club."
Gary married Denise at Gretna Green in 1993, and they had a son Jake, now aged 10.
She was first treated for breast cancer around six years ago after finding a lump while seven months pregnant with the couple's second child.
Denise refused treatment until Oliver was born, then had an operation to remove her breast and lymph glands.
She also endured courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but McAllister went on compassionate leave from the club at the end of 2003 after being informed she would still need more treatment. He resigned soon afterwards.
Denise was an ambassador for Breast Cancer Care and took part in a star-studded charity fashion show in 2002.
Very sad news.
Deepest sympathy to Gary McAllister and family.
RIP Denise.
Mother-of-two Denise died in a Nottingham hospital with her husband at her bedside.
Former Leeds star McAllister gave up his job as player-manager of Coventry City in 2003 to nurse his wife during her illness.
Denise's condition had been thought to be improving, but took a turn for the worse over recent months, according to the spokesman. She was in her late 30s.
In May last year McAllister said her progress was "pretty good", although the battle was "still ongoing".
In August, he was even linked with a return to football as assistant manager at Derby County, although he did not land the job.
The former Liverpool midfielder, 41, had said of his choice to quit Coventry to care for Denise: "As far as I was concerned it wasn't a decision. It was just the natural thing to do; I didn't want to be at a football club."
Gary married Denise at Gretna Green in 1993, and they had a son Jake, now aged 10.
She was first treated for breast cancer around six years ago after finding a lump while seven months pregnant with the couple's second child.
Denise refused treatment until Oliver was born, then had an operation to remove her breast and lymph glands.
She also endured courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but McAllister went on compassionate leave from the club at the end of 2003 after being informed she would still need more treatment. He resigned soon afterwards.
Denise was an ambassador for Breast Cancer Care and took part in a star-studded charity fashion show in 2002.
Very sad news.
Deepest sympathy to Gary McAllister and family.
RIP Denise.