has revealed that he has spoken with Alan Hansen and is hopeful his friend and former Liverpool team-mate is on the path to a ‘full recovery’.
A statement on Liverpool’s official website last week .
The Reds 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 with tributes to the much-loved Scot.
Hansen wore the captain’s armband on Merseyside from 1985 to 1990 and helped Liverpool 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 Scotland international went on to establish himself as one of the most respected pundits in the English game while working on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme for 22 years.
Speaking this morning on , Souness – a team-mate of Hansen’s for seven years at Liverpool – lifted the lid on a conversation he had with his fellow countryman from his hospital bed following last week’s worrying news.
‘I spoke to him yesterday and he sounded fabulous so I hope that’s him on the way to a full recovery. He’s definitely back because he did nothing but take the Mickey out of me!’ Souness joked.
‘I’ve been speaking to his son and Janet his wife and I’ve been phoning his phone, his phone number.
‘I got on the train on Sunday and I was looking for my seat and my phone rang and I could see it was Big Al.
‘I was thinking, “Oh no, don’t answer that”. So I sat down and got the courage to phone back and he answered the phone.
‘He’s been in a difficult place but the way he sounded yesterday, he’s back, and I hope I’m right.’
Just three days ago, during ITV’s coverage of Euro 2024.
‘I had the pleasure of playing with him, he was an absolute dream for a midfielder,’ Souness said before Scotland’s 5-1 defeat to Scotland.
‘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.’
In the build-up to Italy’s Euro 2024 group-stage opener with Albania, host Gary Lineker passed on his support to his former Match of the Day colleague.
‘Everyone at Match of the Day sends love and thoughts to Janet, Lucy and Adam and the grandchildren,’ Lineker said.
‘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.’
, . , and .
