Aberdeen legend Cooper hospitalised following heart attack

0 Neale Cooper: Thanked the ‘rapid response’ of the medics. Former Aberdeen midfielder Neale Cooper, part of the team that won the European Cupwinners Cup in 1983, is recovering in hospital following a heart attack.

Cooper, 53, revealed the news himself yesterday on social media and posted a picture from his hospital bed.

“After a wonderful day with my children yesterday in Inverness, I returned to Aberdeen only to suffer a heart attack in the early hours of this morning,” he wrote in a public post on his Facebook account.

“Thank you for the rapid response by the ambulance crew from Foresterhill and the surgeons who fitted a stent into my blocked artery in my heart.

“Feeling good today but resting in the hospital with its wonderful staff supporting me. Thanks for the concern and texts from my fb friends and my friends in general.”

One of those friends was Neil Simpson, his former Pittodrie team-mate, who tweeted: “Get well soon Neale. Great guy, great team-mate, great pal.”

Aberdeen, too, sent their best wishes on Twitter. “Everyone at AFC wishes Dons legend Neale Cooper a speedy recovery from his health scare earlier today! Get well soon Neale!” posted the club.

As well as starring for the Dons, playing a key role in Alex Ferguson’s successful side, Cooper also had spells at Aston Villa, Rangers and, later in his career, Dunfermline Athletic and Ross County.

He started his management career at County, has had two spells in charge at Hartlepool United and has also managed Gillingham and Peterhead.