Sir Kenny Dalglish, one of the greatest and most important figures in Liverpool history, has revealed he is undergoing treatment for cancer.
The former player and manager, 75, said he planned to keep his treatment private, but inadvertently revealed the news on social media.
“As my inadvertent social media post has indicated, I am currently undergoing treatment for cancer,” Dalglish said in a statement.
“Unlike my mobile phone use, the treatment is going well. Ideally, this would have remained private because that’s the way it should be, but my useless technology skills have forced my hand.
“I did not mean to make this matter public so I would appreciate it if the privacy of my family and myself are respected.
“As ever, thank you to the wonderful medical staff who have shown incredible care and discretion, not just for me but for many, many others. They are a credit to themselves.”
Liverpool said “the support, best wishes and love of everyone” at the club were with Dalglish and his family.
“The club would also like to underscore his request for privacy moving forward,” Liverpool said.
As a player, Dalglish won six English league titles and three European Cups for Liverpool, making 515 appearances for the Reds and scoring 172 goals for the club.
The forward turned player-manager in 1985 and brought even more success to Anfield, including the league and FA Cup double in 1986 and further league titles in 1988 and 1990.
Dalglish also led Liverpool through the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. Along with his wife Marina, he supported the families of the tragedy and raised more than £10m for charity.
Dalglish was knighted in 2018 for “services to football, charity, and the city of Liverpool” and Anfield’s Centenary Stand was renamed the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand in 2017.
Born in Glasgow in 1951, Dalglish joined Liverpool from Celtic for a British record fee in 1977 having won four Scottish league titles and four Scottish Cups.
He is Scotland’s all-time record appearance holder, with 102 caps, and scored 30 goals for his country between 1971 and 1986.
More follows
