Gary Lineker fights back tears as he sends heartfelt message to Alan Hansen

Gary Lineker was seen fighting back tears on live TV as he sent a heartfelt message to his former Match of the Day colleague Alan Hansen.

While presenting the BBC’s coverage of the Euro 2024 match between Italy and Albania on Saturday evening, Lineker took a moment to talk about the Liverpool legend who is currently seriously ill in hospital.

Hansen, who became a beloved figure at Anfield before embarking on a highly successful second career as a pundit, was confirmed to be in a serious condition by Liverpool last week. The club announced that they were in touch with the 69 year old’s family and would provide updates to concerned fans when they received them.

The Scottish icon worked on Match of the Day for 22 years before retiring at the end of the 2013/14 season. He spent much of that time working alongside Lineker, and the presenter, along with pundit Alan Shearer, paid a touching tribute to his former colleague ahead of Saturday night’s match.

“Before we move on, it’s been a tough week for everyone associated with Match of the Day,” said Lineker. “The news that Alan Hansen was seriously ill in hospital shocked us all, didn’t it Alan?”, reports Wales Online.

“Oh absolutely,” said Shearer. “We’re great friends with Al, we know his character, we know how tough he is.”

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Visibly moved, the former Newcastle striker added: “So, we’re thinking of you big man. We’re with you, we’re hoping and we’re praying for you.”

Gary Lineker has expressed his heartfelt sentiments on Match of the Day, sending love and thoughts to Alan Hansen’s family: “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 of Alan’s favourite past time, golf, you may be three down with four to play, but if anyone can come back from it, it’s Alan.”

He added a personal note on Hansen’s resilience: “I’ve never known a more competitive person in my life – we’re all with you, Big Al.”

The update on Hansen’s condition was further highlighted by his former teammate Graeme Souness, who shared: “He is one of life’s good guys and we’re all saying a prayer for him. I spoke to his wife, Janet, a few days ago and you can imagine the state she’s in, but I’m telling you, he’s one of the best guys you could meet, a proper human being in every sense.”

During the same programme, Lineker, along with Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, and Cesc Fabregas, also paid their respects to the late Kevin Campbell, the former Arsenal and Cardiff striker, and Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, both of whom passed away, with Lineker concluding: “It has been a terrible day.”