Former Scottish footballer Graeme Souness said he has spoken to former Liverpool captain and TV pundit Alan Hansen who is recovering in hospital.
Hansen, 68, who captained the Reds for four seasons, has been in hospital since around 9 June, after the club confirmed he was “seriously ill”.
On Monday, his friend and former teammate Souness said he thought Hansen was “on his way back” after he “took the mick” out of him from his hospital bed during a phone call.
“I spoke to him yesterday, and he sounded fabulous, so I hope he’s on the way to a full recovery,” Souness told the talkSPORT podcast Outspoken with White and Jordan.
“He’s definitely on the way back because he did nothing but take the mick out of me, so he’s definitely on the way back.”
Souness, who played with Hansen at Liverpool between 1978 and 1984, said he had been calling his friend’s phone and had been in regular contact with his son and wife, when he got a call from the man himself.
“I get on the train yesterday and I’m looking for my seat, and my phone rang and I could see it was Big Al,” Souness, who is currently in Germany covering the Euros 2024, said.
“I’m thinking, ‘Oh. I don’t want to answer that,’ so I sat down and then I got the courage to phone back and he answered the phone.
The same trio 40 years later. Pic: PA
“He’s been in a difficult place, but the way he sounded yesterday, he’s back, and I hope I’m right.”
It is still unknown why Hansen was hospitalised.
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Hansen and Souness also represented Scotland together, with 26 appearances and 54 caps for their country, respectively.
The news of Hansen’s poor health came as a shock to the football world, with the club sending “thoughts and support” to its “legendary former captain”.
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In a statement last week, the Merseyside club said: “The club is currently in contact with Alan’s family to provide our support at this difficult time, and our thoughts, wishes and hopes are with Alan and all of the Hansen family.
“We will provide any further updates as we receive them in due course, and we request that the Hansen family’s privacy is respected at this time.”
Hansen’s former Match Of The Day colleague Gary Lineker wrote on X after the announcement: “Horrendous news. Thoughts are with Alan, Janet and all the family.”