LIVERPOOL legend Alan Hansen is “seriously ill in hospital” as his former club says their “thoughts and support” are with him.
The 68-year-old Scot played 620 times for Liverpool between 1977 and 1991 and made 26 caps for the Scottish national side.
He was a key part of the great Reds teams of the ’70s and ’80s and won eight First Division titles, three European Cups and two FA Cups.
The centre back later began a media career and became an authoritative pundit on defending.
He appeared on the BBC’s Match of the Day for 22 years from 1992 to 2014.
Liverpool described their former player as a: “defender of the utmost elegance”.
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A spokesperson said: “Hansen’s outstanding raft of honours across a 14-year spell with the Reds – he joined from Partick Thistle in 1977 – included eight league titles, three European Cups, two FA Cups and three League Cups.
“‘Jocky’, as he was known by teammates, is in the top 10 for all-time appearances for the club having played 620 matches, and the Scottish centre-back also served as Liverpool skipper for four seasons.
“The club is currently in contact with Alan’s family to provide our support at this difficult time, and our thoughts, wishes and hopes are with Alan and all of the Hansen family.
“We will provide any further updates as we receive them in due course, and we request that the Hansen family’s privacy is respected at this time.”
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His former Match of the Day co-host Gary Lineker posted a tweet saying: “Horrendous news. Thoughts are with Alan, Janet and all the family.”
SkySports host and former Red Jamie Carragher responded to the news in a tweet with a fingers crossed emoji and a heart emoji.
Other fans left their well wishes to the former player.
One said: “Prayers and thought for the legend, Alan Hansen. May he recover.”
Another posted: “Damn. Thoughts are with him and his family. Hoping he pulls through.”
While a third wrote: “So sorry to read this, was an outstanding player in his day. Thoughts very much him him and those close to him.”
Hansen started his playing career back in Scotland, playing for Partick Thistle in Glasgow 86 times between 1973 and 1977.
As a pundit, Hansen is best known for his infamous “You can’t win anything with kids” comment after a youthful Manchester United were smashed 3-1 by Aston Villa on the opening day of the 1995/96 season.
He eventually left punditry after the 2014 World Cup after saying his nerves before going on TV were getting worse.
He said in 2017: “I was getting more nervous and I’d say: ‘What are you doing?’
“The BBC were terrific, I loved the people and Match Of The Day but I didn’t enjoy the nerves.”
Hansen added: “When I played I didn’t like pundits.
“When I was a pundit I didn’t like the other pundits because I was scared they might be better than me.
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“Honestly, I thought they were all better than me. It was my insecurity.
“On the pitch I had tremendous belief in my own ability. I never thought I wasn’t good enough to play for Liverpool when the game started but, before the match, before a programme… I never found out why. It is the way it is.”
ALAN HANSEN’S PUNDITRY CAREER
1991 Retires from football. After a brief rest begins working for Sky TV as a pundit and summariser
1992 Approached by the BBC, initially for Radio 5 Live before moving to Match of the Day
1994 During the World Cup, says a player ‘deserves shooting’ for his performance. It came the day after Colombian defender Andres Escobar was infamously shot dead after scoring an own goal
1995 On the opening day of the season, comments that ‘you can’t win anything with kids’ as Manchester United are beaten by Aston Villa. That team would go on to win the Double, while the famed Class of 92 would become stars. Hansen says the phrase ‘made him’ as a pundit
2011 Criticised for claiming Arsenal winger Theo Walcott does not have a ‘football brain’
2011 BBC receive complaints after he twice refers to black players as ‘coloured’. Hansen apologies for any offence caused
2011 He and the BBC are criticised as it’s revealed Hansen is paid £40,000 per appearance (£1.5m annually)
2012 Agrees to take £500,000 pay cut after the BBC announce company-wide savings of millions
2014 Announces he will retire after the World Cup
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
