Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer passed on heartfelt messages of support to Alan Hansen as they kicked off the BBC’s coverage of Euro 2024 ahead of Italy’s clash with Albania this evening.
A statement on Liverpool’s official website earlier this week confirmed that the club’s former captain Hansen, 68, widely considered one of the finest defenders of his generation, was ‘seriously ill’ in hospital.
The Merseyside outfit said they would provide further updates on Hansen’s condition in ‘due course’ and requested that his family’s privacy be respected, as fans, pundits and ex-team-mates flooded social media with tributes to the much-loved Scottish legend.
Hansen captained Liverpool between 1985 and 1990 and helped the Reds win eight league titles, three European Cups, two FA Cups and three League Cups across an illustrious 14-year spell at Anfield.
After injury forced Hansen into an early retirement, the former centre-back went on to establish himself as one of the most revered pundits in the English game while working on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme for 22 years.
After Liverpool announced the news, Lineker took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to reach out to the loved ones of his long-time colleague.
‘Horrendous news. Thoughts are with Alan, Janet and all the family,’ the Match of the Day host said.
In the build-up to Italy’s Euro 2024 group-stage opener with Albania, the BBC’s panel of Lineker, Shearer, Cesc Fabregas and Micah Richards touched on what had been a devastating 24 hours in the world of football.
Tributes were paid to Arsenal legend Kevin Campbell and Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, following news of the duo’s tragic deaths this weekend, before Lineker and Shearer reached out to Hansen.
After Lineker revealed that the news had ‘shocked’ everyone at Match of the Day, Shearer responded: ‘Oh, absolutely.
‘We’re great friends with Al. We know his character, we know he’s a fighter, we know how tough he is so we’re thinking of you, big man, and we’re with you.
‘We’re hoping and we’re praying for you.’
Host Lineker added: ‘We certainly are, everyone at Match of the Day sends love and thoughts to Janet, Lucy and Adam and the grandchildren.
‘To use an analogy of Alan’s favourite pastime, golf: you might be three down with four to play but if anyone can come back from it, it’s Alan.
‘I’ve never known a more competitive person in my life. We’re all with you, big Al.’
It comes after ex-Liverpool skipper Graeme Souness, a team-mate of Hansen’s for seven seasons on Merseyside, struggled to hold back the tears while paying tribute to his fellow countryman.
‘I had the pleasure of playing with him, he was an absolute dream for a midfielder,’ Souness said on ITV’s coverage of Euro 2024.
‘He passed the ball at the right weight, at the right angle, at the right time.
‘Just a super footballer. I believe the best footballing centre-half ever. I know that’s some statement but I really believe it. I saw it close-up, he was a real quality performer.
‘And as a human being, when people are ill people say they were great guys. But I’m telling you, he was a great guy.
‘You’d have to search a long, long way to find anyone who’s got a bad word to say about him and that takes some doing. His chat and banter was top-class, he was 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.’
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