Former England and Queens Park Rangers striker Stan Bowles has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 66.
Bowles was recently voted as QPR's greatest ever player by supporters.
"We are writing this on behalf of our father Stanley Bowles," a statement from his family said.
"We would like it to be known that our father has unfortunately developed a form of Alzheimer's. Consequently he finds it extremely difficult to sign autographs etc.
"We would be grateful for anyone who comes into contact with our father to show some understanding of his condition."
Bowles appeared five times for England in the 1970s and scored 97 goals in 315 appearances for QPR.