Legendary Liverpool player Alan Hansen is critically ill in hospital as news is expected concerning his condition.
The 69-year-old was taken ill last weekend and former BBC colleagues Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have sent a heartfelt message of support to their friend.
“Before we move on, it’s been a tough day for everyone associated with Match of the Day,” Lineker said live on BBC One.
“The news that Alan Hansen is seriously ill in hospital shocked us all, didn’t it Alan.”
“Absolutely,” Shearer replied. “We’re all great friends with Al and we know his character. We know he is a fighter and we know how tough he is so we’re thinking of you, big man. We’re with you and we’re praying for you.”
“Everyone at Match of the Day sends love and thoughts to Janet, Lucy, Adam and the grandchildren,” Lineker continued.
“To use an analogy of Alan’s favorite past time, golf, he might be three down with four to play, but if anyone can come back, it is Alan. I’ve never known a more competitive person in my life and we’re all with you, Al.”
Hansen was captain of both Liverpool and Scotland during his career. He was a part of the Reds side that won their penultimate league title in 1990 and later became a household name as a pundit.
“Listen, I had the pleasure of playing with him, he was an absolute dream for a midfield player,” Liverpool legend Graeme Souness said on ITV’s coverage last night.
“He passed the ball at the right weight at the right time from the right angle.
“Just a super football player, I believe the best footballing center-half ever. I know that’s some statement but I really believe that. I saw him close up and he was a real quality performer.
“And as a human being. You know when people are in trouble with an illness people say ‘They’re a great guy’ or ‘They were a great guy’. I’m telling you, he was a great guy.
“He’s a strange breed because I think you’d have to search a long, long way to find anyone to say a bad word about him. That takes some doing and his chat and his banter were top-class, he was just a pleasure to be around. He’s in the fight of his life right now and we should all say a little prayer for him.”
