Why Alan Hansen quit Match Of The Day

Football icon and ex-Liverpool defender Alan Hansen is fighting a serious illness in hospital, with the football world uniting to send their best wishes.

Liverpool FC provided an update last week on the 68 year old's critical condition, confirming that they are keeping in close contact with his family and will share updates as they receive them. Hansen is a legend at Anfield, having had a glittering 14-year stint where he racked up 620 appearances and secured a remarkable haul of 25 major trophies, including eight league titles and three European Cups.

Hansen became renowned for his incisive punditry on Match of the Day, where his forthright assessments of substandard defending, often described as "diabolical" or "shocking", became his signature.

After joining the BBC's premier football show in 1992, Hansen was a mainstay on our screens, offering expert commentary on 16 FA Cup finals, six World Cups, five European Championships, and even an Olympic Games. He hung up his pundit boots in 2014 after an illustrious 22 years, bowing out after the World Cup final.

Reflecting on his decision to leave broadcasting, Hansen said at the start of the 2013/14 Premier League season: "I'm retiring from Match of the Day at the end of the season. I will have been there for 22 years and will be 59, so it's the right time for me.", reports the Express.

"The guys at the BBC know me and I said, 'Look, this is categorical. I'm leaving and nothing will make me change my mind'. I am contracted to do the World Cup and I will do that as it will be a good way to go out, but I have had a great run. 'I've been in football for 41 years and I'm going out right at the top, just as I did at Liverpool."

However, it later emerged that "crippling" nerves played a significant part in Hansen's exit, with the man himself admitting that fact in a 2016 interview. "There was no training, it was sink or swim," he said.

"I was lucky to work with a master, Des Lynam."

"After 22 years I kept on telling myself I wouldn't get so nervous, but it got worse. That was one of the reasons I left."

"I was getting more nervous and I'd say: 'What are you doing? ' The BBC were terrific, I loved the people and Match of the Day but I didn't enjoy the nerves."

He added: "When I played I didn't like pundits. When I was a pundit I didn't like the other pundits because I was scared they might be better than me. Honestly, I thought they were all better than me. It was my insecurity."

Hansen's Match of the Day colleague Gary Lineker also spoke of the Scotsman's nerves last year, explaining: "He was incredibly nervous, which is why he quit. He got so nervous. He used to shuffle his feet on the floor."

However, the presenter added: "He was probably the first person that went down the more analytic route, a path now followed by so many. He was a brilliant pundit."

Since his departure from the BBC a decade ago, the former centre back has been leading a relatively quiet life with his wife Janet and their two children, Adam and Lucy. Besides football, he also has a passion for golf and was part of the BBC's coverage of the Masters before he left television.

Last year, he had the privilege of presenting his former Liverpool and Scotland teammate Sir Kenny Dalglish with the BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award during the SPOTY awards in Salford.

Lineker paused Match of the Day on Saturday night to express his support for former Liverpool star and TV pundit Alan Hansen, who is seriously ill in hospital.

The former England striker was visibly moved as he sent best wishes to the man who has sat beside him on numerous occasions over the years.

Earlier this week, Liverpool announced that much-loved player Alan was in hospital, and tributes quickly poured in for the Scotsman, who recently celebrated his 69th birthday. A formidable presence on the pitch, Alan became one of the most recognisable voices and faces in TV sport, thanks to his straightforward analysis on Saturday episodes of Match of the Day and at all major tournaments, working alongside anchors like legendary broadcaster Des Lynam and, more recently, former England and Spurs striker Gary.

As he led the BBC coverage of Italy v Albania in a Euro 2024 group game on Saturday, Gary took a moment to talk about the 'shock' of learning about Alan's serious condition, as well as sending plenty of support. Minutes before kick-off in Dortmund, Gary began: "It's been a tough week for everyone associated with Match of the Day. The news that Alan Hansen is seriously ill in hospital shocked us all."

Gary Lineker then passed the torch to Alan Shearer, who sat beside him and said warmly: "We are all great friends with Al. We know he's a character, we know he's a fighter, we know how tough he is. So we're thinking of you big man and we're hoping, we're praying for you."

Gary added to the sentiment: "Everyone at Match of the Day sends love and thoughts to Janet, Lucy and Adam and the grandchildren. To use an analogy of Lan's favourite past time golf - you might be three down with four to play, but if anyone can come back it's Alan. I've never known a more competitive person in my life. We're all with you Big Al."