Prayers for Hoddle as he’s rushed to hospital
FOOTIE HERO’S HEALTH SCARE ON BIRTHDAY Former player and England boss seriously ill
Football hero Glenn Hoddle was seriously ill in hospital last night after taking unwell on his 61st birthday.
The Spurs legend and former England boss col lapsed yesterday morning shortly after appearing as a pundit on BT Sport.
The channel’s results show was cancelled afterwards.
Goodwill messages were sent by footballing figures and the FA, who employed him as England boss in the 1990s.
Presenter Jake Humphrey, who works alongside Hoddle, said: “Our friend and colleague Glenn Hoddle was taken seriously ill at the BT Sport studio.
“Everyone of us is right with you Glenn, sending love and strength.”
Earlier, Hoddle had appeared on Saturday Morning Sav with former players Robbie Savage, Paul Ince and Steve Sidwell and ex-manager Harry Redknapp.
Humphrey said the BT Sport Score show, on which Hoddle had been scheduled to appear at 2.45pm, had been cancelled.
Fellow pundit and former Celtic striker Chris Sutton added: “Thoughts and prayers for Glenn Hoddle and his family after he was taken ill today.”
Former England team-mate Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter: “Hugely worrying news that Glenn Hoddle collapsed at the BT studios earlier. Thoughts are with him and his family. Come on Glenn.”
Micky Hazard, who played alongside Hoddle at Spurs in the 80s, tweeted: “Just seen the news about my hero. My thoughts and prayers are with you Glenn.
“In shock and waiting for more news. Come on God get those magic feet moving – the football world is with you every step of the way.” The Football Association wrote on the England team’s Twitter page: “Worrying news. Get wel l soon, Glenn Hoddle, we’re all behind you.”
Hoddle tweeted most recently to his 97,000 followers on Friday that he was enjoying a TV debate in which he was appearing alongside Humphrey and former midfielder Owen Hargreaves.
Hoddle has been married twice and has three children. The exact details of his condition were not known last night.
The footballer, who won 53 caps for England and starred for Tottenham for 12 years, was considered one of the most elegant midfielders of his generation.
He started his career at Spurs in 1975, winning the FA Cup twice and the UEFA Cup, prior to joining Monaco in 1987.
Hoddle gained success on the continent, winning France’s Ligue 1 title with Monaco in 1988. He went on to become player- manager at Swindon then Chelsea in the early 1990s.
Hi s mana ger ia l ta lent s saw him selected to replace Terry Venables as England manager in 1996.
He managed his country between 1996 and 1999, taking them to the 1998 World Cup.
Hoddle’s spokesman said: “The condition is serious but Glenn is currently receiving specialist treatment and responding well.”