A Liverpool and broadcasting legend, Alan Hansen, is reportedly hospitalized and in serious condition.
The 68-year-old Scot had an illustrious career with Liverpool, playing for the club from 1977 to 1991 and making an impressive 620 appearances. After hanging up his boots, Hansen transitioned into broadcasting, working for Sky and BBC Radio 5 Live before becoming the main pundit for Match of the Day for 22 years until his departure in 2014.
On Sunday, Liverpool shared the news of Hansen’s illness on their social media channels, sending well-wishes to the former defender and his family. The club also confirmed their direct communication with the Hansen family and requested respect for their privacy.
Alan Hansen, a 68-year-old Liverpool and Match of the Day legend, is critically ill in the hospital.
Hansen, a veteran of 620 games for Liverpool, served as a pundit after retiring from the sport before leaving Match of the Day in 2014.
On Sunday, Liverpool shared an update on Hansen’s (right) condition via social media.
In a statement on their official website, Liverpool said: ‘The thoughts and support of everyone at Liverpool FC are with our legendary former captain Alan Hansen, who is currently seriously ill in hospital.’
The statement continued by highlighting Hansen’s impressive career, which included eight league titles, three European Cups, two FA Cups, and three League Cups during his 14-year stint with the Reds. Nicknamed ‘Jockey’ by his teammates, Hansen is among the top 10 all-time appearance makers for Liverpool, having played 620 matches. He also served as the club’s skipper for four seasons.
Liverpool concluded their statement by expressing their support for Hansen’s family and requesting respect for their privacy during this challenging time.
Hansen, widely regarded as one of the greatest Scottish defenders of all time, began his career in his native Scotland before joining Liverpool at the age of 21 for a fee of £100,000. He played alongside his brother, John, at Partick Thistle, helping the team win the Scottish First Division title in the 1975-76 season.
Hansen retired from playing in 1991 and is among Liverpool’s top 10 appearance makers.
Liverpool requested privacy for Hansen, who served as captain for four seasons, in their statement.
In his debut season with Liverpool, Hansen was in and out of the starting lineup, missing out on the 1978 League Cup final but featuring in the 1978 European Cup final victory at Wembley. He soon established himself as a regular fixture in the defense, contributing to the club’s league title wins and dominance under Bob Paisley.
Hansen’s presence continued to bring success to Liverpool, as they won the Treble in the 1983-84 season under Joe Fagan, who was later replaced by Kenny Dalglish. Dalglish, initially appointed as player-manager, named Hansen as captain, and together they led Liverpool to a league and FA Cup double in his first season as skipper.
Hansen was honored with a testimonial match at Anfield in 1988, and despite battling knee issues, he continued to add to his trophy collection in the following years. In 1989, he started the ill-fated game against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough, which tragically took the lives of 97 Liverpool fans. Hansen actively campaigned for justice for the victims, describing the event as ‘the blackest period of my life.’
Hansen is recognized as one of Liverpool’s greatest defenders due to his leadership and success.
Hansen became a beloved pundit on Match of the Day following his retirement from playing.
After retiring from football, Hansen embarked on a successful broadcasting career, becoming one of the country’s most beloved pundits, particularly for his work on Match of the Day. He also ventured into newspaper column writing, coining the famous phrase, ‘You can’t win anything with kids,’ following Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in 1995.
Hansen’s final stint with the BBC was during the 2014 World Cup, after which his contract expired. He subsequently stepped away from broadcasting, having covered numerous prestigious events during his tenure with the BBC, including 16 FA Cup finals, six World Cups, five European Championships, and one Olympics.