Alan Hansen health update issued as Liverpool pal Graeme Souness shares heartening insight

Graeme Souness has revealed that he has spoken to Alan Hansen on the phone and has hope that he will make a full recovery. Hansen was admitted to hospital in early June after falling seriously ill.

Souness played with Hansen at Liverpool for many years and has also regularly worked with him as a pundit. On June 9, their former club confirmed that Hansen had been rushed to the emergency services and that he was "seriously ill". Hansen has remained in hospital ever since.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Souness said that he initially missed a phone call from his fellow Scot. But he managed to speak to him when he rang his friend back at another time. He also said that he has been in communication with the former Match of the Day pundit's wife Janet and their son.

Souness, who is in Germany covering Euro 2024, told talkSPORT: “I spoke to him yesterday and he sounded fabulous so I hope that’s him on the way to a full recovery. He’s definitely back because he did nothing but take the Mickey out of me!

“I’ve been speaking to his son and Janet his wife and I’ve been phoning his phone number. I got on the train on Sunday and I was looking for my seat and my phone rang and I could see it was Big Al.

"I was thinking ‘Oh no, don’t answer that’. So I sat down and got the courage to phone back and he answered the phoned. He’s been in a difficult place but the way he sounded yesterday, he’s back, and I hope I’m right.”

During the BBC's live coverage of Italy vs Albania, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, Hansen's former Match of the Day colleagues, sent a tribute to their friend. Lineker said: "It's been a tough week for everyone associated with Match of the Day. The news that Alan Hansen was seriously ill in hospital shocked us all."

A clearly emotional Shearer then added: "We're thinking of you big man, we're with you and we're hoping and we're praying for you," before Lineker said: "We certainly are. Everyone at Match of the Day sends love and thoughts to Janet, Lucy and Adam and the grandchildren.

"To use an analogy from Alan's favourite pastime golf... You might be three down with four to play, but if anyone can come back from it, it's Alan. I've never known a more competitive person in my life. We're all with you big Al."

When the news first broke of Hansen's illness, Souness also paid a tribute to his former Reds colleague. He wrote: "It's a desperate time for his wife, Janet, his children, Adam and Lucy, and everybody who is close to him. I'm praying, I don't know who to, but I'm praying that he will be around soon to return to his usual p***-taking duties.

"Alan is a rare breed in life, as I don't know anyone who has a bad word to say about him. The best footballing centre back ever. He's a rascal with a ruthless sense of humour. Great company, a great storyteller... and apparently a great memory."

"That banter we had and that we used to share at Liverpool, those are days I wish I could live all over again. He is the best of men. I just can't believe he is fighting for his life."