Alan Hansen health update as Graeme Souness reveals his ex-Liverpool teammate still has ‘wicked’ sense of humour
GRAEME Souness has given another health update on Alan Hansen saying his former teammate still has his “wicked” sense of humour.
Liverpool icon and legendary Scotland defender Hansen, 69, was admitted to hospital earlier this month with a “serious illness”, prompting messages of support to flood in.
News of the star’s hospitalisation left the football world shocked and saddened, with big names including Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer coming out to pay emotional tributes to him on live TV.
But now Souness, who was at Liverpool with Hansen between 1978 and 1984, says he has been “on the receiving end” of the former team captain’s humour on several occasions this week.
He said this is how he knows Hansen is “on the way back”.
Speaking on talkSPORT this morning, Souness said: “Anyone who’s met Alan once, you know he’s got a wicked sense of humour.
“So, for two conversations with him in the last five or six days, both conversations were me on the receiving end of his humour.
“So that tells me he’s on the way back.”
Souness had earlier this month said that the former Liverpool captain and pundit was in high spirits when the pair spoke on the phone.
Fears had been raised for Hansen after he fell seriously ill in hospital and was said to be fighting for his life.
An emotional Souness had previously said he was “sending prayers” to Hansen on ITV’s opening coverage of Euro 2024.
Souness spoke about his friend and former team-mate ahead of both his and Hansen’s beloved Scotland’s Euros opener against hosts Germany.
He said at the time: “I believe he was the best footballing centre-half ever. And I know that is some statement but I really believe that.
“I saw it first hand he was a really quality performer and a great human being.
“You know when people are in trouble with illness, people say they’re great guys, but I’m telling you he is a great guy.
“You’d have to search a very long way to find anyone saying a bad word about him – that takes some doing.
You can't win anything with kids...
ALAN HANSEN is as famous for an off-the-cuff verdict on Manchester United as a pundit as he is for his vast haul of silverware with Liverpool.
The Scot announced on BBC’s Match of the Day in August 1995: “You can’t win anything with kids.”
Alex Ferguson’s young Red Devils had just lost 3-1 at Aston Villa, with David Beckham notching a late consolation.
Hansen told MOTD presenter Des Lynam that Fergie has “got to buy players, simple as that”.
He added: “You look at that line-up at quarter-past two, when they get the teamsheet, it’s just going to give them a lift, and it’ll happen every time he plays the kids.”
United – with Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane and the Neville brothers in their side – responded by going unbeaten for three months.
And they ended the season by making history – as the first team to win the Double of top-flight and FA Cup twice.
Hansen, however, has happily accepted all the mocking that still comes in for his faulty verdict.
He once said: “That line pretty much made me, simply because I got it so dramatically wrong!
“And he’s in the fight of his life right now and we should all say a little prayer for him.
“I had the pleasure of playing with him, he was an absolute dream.
“He passed the ball at the right weight, at the right angle, at the right time.”
Hansen and Souness were at Liverpool together between 1978 and 1984.
The duo made 974 appearances between them for the Merseyside outfit – winning five league titles, four league cups and three European Cups together.
The Anfield icons also played together for Scotland between 1979 and 1987.
Liverpool released a statement announcing the seriousness of his illness on June 9, which read: “The club is in contact with Alan’s family to provide our support at this difficult time, and our thoughts, wishes and hopes are with Alan and all of the Hansen family.”
Alan Hansen's glittering career stats
Liverpool: 1977- 1990, 620 appearances, 14 goals
Trophies: English titles x8, European Cups x3, Uefa Supercup (1978), FA Cup x2, League Cup x4, English Super Cup x6
Partick Thistle: 1973-1977, 86 appearances, 6 goals
Scotland: 1979-1987, 26 appearances