Ex-rangers star Novo stable after suffering ‘heart attack’ at tournament

0 Nacho Novo is expected to spend a week in hospital Former Rangers striker Nacho Novo is in a stable condition after suffering a suspected heart attack on Saturday evening.

The 38-year-old was featuring for Rangers in the AOK Traditions masters 2018 in Berlin when he was taken ill after they had been knocked out of the round-robin tournament.

He was reportedly rushed to hospital from the Maxschmeling-halle arena before undergoing emergency surgery. Rangers have confirmed that Novo, who played at Ibrox between 2004 and 2010, is in a stable condition.

They tweeted last night: “The Club can confirm that Nacho Novo took ill after playing in the AOK Tradition-masters tournament in Berlin yesterday.

“He was admitted to hospital and is in a stable condition.

“Everyone at the club wishes Nacho a speedy recovery.”

On Saturday morning Novo, who last played for Glentoran, posted a picture on Instagram of him sharing a prematch coffee with team-mate Michael Mols, with Gordon Durie, Alex Rae, Andy Goram and Jorg Albertz also playing for Rangers.

The Scottish club lost both of their round-robin games, though Novo was on the scoresheet several times, according to the tournament’s official website.

Northern Irish side Glentoran, who released Novo in May, tweeted: “Best wishes to our former player@n novo 1010 for a swift and full recovery in hospital in Berlin after taking ill after playing in a masters tournament yesterday. Speedy recovery Nacho.”

Also posting on Twitter, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton said: “Best wishes and thoughts to Nacho Novo and his family after he had a heart attack yesterday.”

John Hartson added: “Get well soon Wee Nacho Novo hope you make a speedy recovery.” A friend of Novo’s told a national newspaper: “It was a heart attack and although they are enormously serious we hope it was relatively minor.”

Rangers were the only nongerman side to send a team to the tournament at the Maxschmeling-halle.