TalkSPORT legend Alan Brazil has revealed his life-saving surgery was a liver transplant.
The 66-year-old has been off-air from presenting his regular Breakfast Show slot for several months, but returned for a short while on Thursday to give his listeners an update on his health.
The former Manchester United forward was on the operating table for several hours and admitted that his heart stopped at one point.
Making an appearance on the breakfast show, he said: ‘I’m still here! Gradually every day improving. I’m looking forward to getting back. It’s going to be a few more weeks, hopefully two or three and then I’m getting back. There’s going to be loads of sport on, which is really getting me going.
‘It’s been a funny few months, it really has, but there’s a lot of rubbish going on at the moment [elsewhere], there’s heartbreak and Kenny [Dalglish], Kevin Keegan, John Barnes, every day you read something different.
‘It’s our age I’m afraid. I cocked it and thank God, luckily, the guys at Addenbrooke’s Hospital saved my life.
‘I’m on the mend I’m still not there, getting there guys. Gabby [Agbonlahor] is still talking tosh so I can still do this.
‘Gabby, lovely to see you mate, and Ally [McCoist], I’m excited to get back to you with Celtic, Rangers, and Hearts.
‘So much sport has been going on and it’s really kept me going to be honest. It’s been magic and there’s still loads to come with the World Cup, so bingo! I’m alive and kicking, and I’m looking forward to it.’
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Alan Brazil spoke about how his heart stopped on the operating table during surgery
The 66-year-old, pictured in December, had been off-air from presenting his regular Breakfast Show due to ongoing health issues
He had been off-air from presenting his regular Breakfast Show due to ongoing health issues, which were unclear until earlier this month.
His update comes almost two months after he was forced to miss presenting for talkSPORT during the final two days at Cheltenham Festival. At the time he was reported as being unwell.
He had previously had a spell off air in January due to illness too.
Brazil has presented the Breakfast show since the radio station launched in 2000, cutting back his hours in 2020.
Five years ago he was forced to take a break while he had a heart operation and said before his return: ‘I had a little problem, whether it was Covid related or, I don’t know, fast living catching up with me, but I ended up in a couple of hospitals. I had a little sort out in the old ticker but I’m pleased to say I’m on the mend.’
The former forward started his football career at Ipswich Town in 1976 and later had spells at Tottenham and Man United in the 1980s. He won 13 caps for Scotland – representing them at the 1982 World Cup in Spain – but struggled with back issues towards the end of his career.
