Liverpool great Alan Hansen ‘overwhelmed’ by support after being discharged from hospital

Former Liverpool captain Alan Hansen has been discharged from hospital and says he is ‘overwhelmed’ by the goodwill and support received as he continues to recover from serious illness.

Liverpool released a statement on behalf of Hansen and his family providing the most positive bulletin yet on his health.

The reason for the medical scare has not been made public, but the news has been encouraging for the past week.

“Alan has been discharged from hospital today to continue his recovery at home,” read the statement.

“Alan, Janet, Adam, Lucy and family would like to thank everybody for their wonderful messages of love and support. It has been overwhelming and has helped enormously.

“We also hugely appreciate the ongoing respect that has been shown for our privacy as Alan continues his recovery. Thank you.”

Hansen was taken ill earlier this month, prompting Liverpool to confirm reports which first circulated on social media that the multi English title and European Cup winner was unwell.

After intensive treatment, the first positive update was delivered via his close friend and former Liverpool and Scotland team-mate Graeme Souness during his Talksport radio show last Monday.

“He sounded fabulous so I hope that’s him on the way to a full recovery,” Souness told Talksport.

News of Hansen taking the first major step on the road to recovery has been received with relief across the football world.

As well as being one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players – Hansen would be one of the first names on all-time Kop XI – following his retirement as a player, the Scot established himself as a pioneer in the modern age of more analytical football punditry.

He was a mainstay on the BBC’s flagship football show Match of the Day and was a Daily Telegraph columnist for 15 years before stepping away from media work in 2014.