Alan Hansen looked totally different on holiday last year after Match of the Day exit

After leaving "Match of the Day" in 2014, Alan Hansen has maintained a low profile and actively stayed out of the spotlight while making the occasional appearance for certain events involving Liverpool.

The iconic pundit and former Liverpool defender has been enjoying a well-earned retirement, but fans were devastated to hear that he had been hospitalized on Sunday. Liverpool has confirmed that the former Scotland international is 'seriously ill' and will provide updates when necessary.

For 22 years Hansen was a weekly pundit on "Match of the Day" and provided analysis on both the Premier League and international soccer games. Hansen was always seen in suit wear for over two decades but looked unrecognizable when popping back up nine years after leaving the show and opting for a private retirement.

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Hansen was seen enjoying a vacation in Barbados back in 2023, and fans were stunned when they saw the former pundit in a t-shirt and shorts. He was also wearing a cap and carrying a woven hat and bag as he basked in the Caribbean sunshine.

Of course, over nine years, Hansen had aged, but the then 67-year-old looked incredibly fit and trim for his age. Hansen has always maintained a slim figure, remaining lean from his playing days when he made 620 appearances for Liverpool.

Hansen began his senior career in 1973 with the Scottish team Partick Thistle, after playing for Sauchie Juniors in his local village. The future Scotland legend almost turned his back on soccer as a teenager, nearly giving it up completely to pursue golf.

Hibernian, a major team in Scotland, offered Hansen a trial when he was just 17 and handed him a professional contract after impressing. However, Hansen rejected it as it would have stopped him from playing golf tournaments.

His mind soon changed, and Hansen turned down an offer to study at the University of Aberdeen so he could sign for Partick. Hansen helped Partick win the Scottish First Division and gain promotion to the Scottish Premiership, where he made 35 first-team appearances the following season while playing in the top league.

His performances attracted the interest of Liverpool, and they signed him in 1977 for £100,000 ($127,000). With inflation estimates, that figure would be worth around £780,000 in 2024 — roughly $1m.

Hansen spent the remainder of his career with Liverpool and became an undisputed legend, winning eight league titles and three European cups. Hansen was part of the last squad to win the league title for Liverpool until they ended their 30-year drought in 2020 under head coach Jurgen Klopp.

With head coaches from Scotland being famed for their success, it was assumed that Hansen would enter a coaching role post-career, but he opted to go into sports media instead and held his position at the BBC for 22 years before stepping away from broadcasting. Like his retirement from soccer, while playing for Liverpool, Hansen's decision was seen as premature, but he wanted to leave while at the peak of his powers.