23 June 2024 , 12:30
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Former Liverpool and Scotland star Alan Hansen was admitted to hospital in early June, remaining in a serious condition, with the footballing world rallying round him
Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has been released from hospital, having been admitted after falling seriously ill.
"Alan has been discharged from hospital today to continue his recovery at home," a statement from Liverpool FC read. "Alan, Janet, Adam, Lucy and family would like to thank everybody for their wonderful messages of love and support. It has been overwhelming and has helped enormously."
The former footballer, 69, was admitted in early June with figures from the footballing world rallying around. His former Liverpool and Scotland team-mate Graeme Souness had been in regular contact with Hansen’s family, providing updates on his chats with his close friend.
"Anyone who’s met Alan Hansen, he has a wicked sense of humour so I’ve had two conversations with him in the last five, six days," Souness told talkSPORT days before Hansen’s release. "Both conversations were me on the receiving end of his humour, so that tells me he’s on the way back."
Souness had earlier indicated Hansen was on the mend following a phone conversation. And now there has been more positive news, with the defender allowed to return home.
Hansen joined Liverpool from Partick Thistle in 1977 and won three European Cups, eight league titles, two FA Cups and three League Cups in 620 appearances for the Anfield side.
After leaving the Reds he embarked on a punditry career, becoming a BBC and Match of the Day mainstay. Hansen provided analysis for 16 FA Cup finals, six World Cups, five European Championships, and even an Olympic Games before hanging up his punditry boots in 2014 after the World Cup final.
On his departure from Match of the Day, Hansen explained: "I’m retiring from Match of the Day at the end of the season. I will have been there for 22 years and will be 59, so it’s the right time for me."
Hansen later confessed in a 2016 interview that his departure came as a result of "crippling" nerves as he reflected on his career and his suffering with anxiety.
"There was no training, it was sink or swim," he stated. "I was lucky to work with a master, Des Lynam. "After 22 years I kept telling myself I wouldn’t get so nervous, but it got worse. T
"hat was one of the reasons I left. 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."
He also revealed: "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.
"Honestly, I thought they were all better than me. It was my insecurity."