A former member of Manchester United's youth squad was awarded 4.3 million pounds (US$8.2 million, 5.5 million) by a court on Monday over a tackle that ended his career.
United manager Alex Ferguson had told an earlier hearing that Ben Collett had an "outstanding chance" of succeeding in football, but he was never able to return from a 2003 tackle by Middlesbrough's Gary Smith which broke his right leg in two places during a reserve match.
Middlesbrough and Smith admitted liability for the "negligent" tackle and Collett, who is now 23, was awarded the damages by London's High Court. The amount will be paid by the Premier League club's insurers.
"This is good news for a young man who appeared to have an excellent career in front of him," said Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association. "But it also sends out a message to everyone about the duty of care they have to their opponents."
