Former legend Liverpool Captain Alan Hansen “was seriously ill and had to be hospitalized”, Merseyside club said in a statement on Sunday.
Hansen won 16 trophies in his 14 years playing for Liverpool, including eight league titles, three European Cups, two FA Cups and three League Cups.
The defender joined Liverpool from Patrick Thistle in 1977, is in the top 10 players with the most appearances for the club and has played for Scotland 26 times.
In its statement, 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 club is currently in contact with Alan’s family to support us at this difficult time. Our thoughts, wishes and hopes go out to Alan and all of the Hansen family.
“We will provide any further updates as we receive them in due course and we ask that the privacy of the Hansen family be respected at this time.”
Hansen’s former “Match of the Day” colleague Gary Lineker wrote on X: “Terrible news. Our thoughts go out to Alan, Janet and all the family.”
The BBC’s flagship program said: “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Match of the Day are with Alan and his family at this difficult time.”
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
