Kenny Dalglish reveals cancer diagnosis as Liverpool legend issues heartbreaking statement | Football | Sport

Liverpool have confirmed legendary player and manager Kenny Dalglish has been diagnosed with cancer. The 75-year-old won six league titles with Liverpool as a player, as well as three European Cups and is widely regarded as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.

Dalglish finished as a runner-up in the Ballon d’Or, and after retiring from football, he turned his hand to management. A winner of three league titles with the Merseyside outfit, Dalglish was also in charge the day of the Hillsbrough stadium disaster, when 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives during an FA Cup semi-final clash with Nottingham Forest.

Confirming the news via a statement, Dalglish said: “As my inadvertent social media post has indicated, I am currently undergoing treatment for cancer. 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.

“Obviously 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 added: “We are all with you Sir Kenny. The support, best wishes and love of everyone at Liverpool FC are, and will be, with Sir Kenny and his family. The club would also like to underscore his request for privacy moving forward.”

Away from Liverpool, Dalglish won four league championships with Celtic as a player, and as a manager, he guided Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title during the 1994/95 season. Posting a picture of Dalglish holding the Premier League title, Blackburn said: “Sending all our love and support to Sir Kenny Dalglish, who has confirmed he is undergoing cancer treatment.”

Dalglish was at Anfield as recently as last week, when he was part of the farewell celebrations for Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson. Fellow Liverpool icon Ian Rush has previously compared Salah to Dalglish, saying: “100%, he is like the modern-day Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, that is what it is all about.”