JEFFERIES SCARE
Gorgie legend had to be revived after heart attack
HEARTS legend Jim Jefferies was last night recovering from a heart attack after being revived by paramedics.
Sportsmail understands that the former Tynecastle manager and player (right), who collapsed while playing golf in Gullane in East Lothian yesterday, had stopped breathing during the ambulance ride to hospital.
And friends paid tribute to the ambulance staff who ‘saved his life’ by administering prompt treatment during the journey. One close pal said: ‘He has been really lucky.’
Jefferies, who captained Hearts in the 1970s and led them to Scottish Cup glory during his first of two spells as manager, was said to have recovered well enough yesterday afternoon to be sitting up taking tea and toast in his hospital bed.
The 68-year-old is one of the most well-liked and respected figures in Scottish football, having taken the helm at Berwick, Falkirk, Kilmarnock and Dunfermline, as well as his boyhood favourites.
The 1998 Scottish Cup triumph, a 2-1 victory over Rangers that
saw Hearts lift the trophy for the first time in 42 years, was the highlight of his initial spell as manager in Gorgie. Jefferies was tempted into a return to the club in 2010, taking over from Csaba Laszlo. He led Hearts to a third-place finish in the top flight in his first full season back at the helm, having mounted a title challenge that faded over the closing stages of the campaign. After leaving the club for a second time in August 2011, he took time away from the game before taking over at crisis-hit Dunfermline, who were struggling on and off the field. Jefferies, who was also manager of Bradford City in the early 2000s, has been sitting on the board of Edinburgh City since February 2017, acting as director of football. Last night, Hearts tweeted: ‘Everyone at Heart of Midlothian Football Club would like to wish former captain and cup-winning manager Jim Jefferies a speedy recovery after he took ill earlier today. Get well soon, JJ’. Dunfermline tweeted: ‘Everyone at #DAFC is wishing former manager Jim Jefferies a speedy recovery after falling ill earlier today.’ Kilmarnock also tweeted: ‘Everyone associated with the club wish our former manager a quick recovery. We hope you feel better soon Jim.’