Though he couldn’t forestall Bournemouth from shedding and slipping additional into the relegation quagmire, his story impressed everybody and even had opposition followers cheering him onto the sector of play.
Well being is extra essential than soccer, and as Chelsea followers, it was nice to listen to when a participant from the opposition comes again from adversity and performs once more.
Right here we rejoice the unimaginable journeys of 5 footballers who’ve frolicked away from the sport attributable to most cancers and returned to the sport.
Eric Abidal
The previous Barcelona and French nationwide group defender was recognized with liver most cancers in March 2011. After surgical procedure, he made an unimaginable return to soccer simply two months later, taking part in within the UEFA Champions League closing, which Barcelona received.
In 2012, Abidal underwent a liver transplant and spent over a 12 months recovering. In July 2013, he returned to skilled soccer, signing with AS Monaco.
Jonas Gutierrez
Argentinian winger Jonas Gutierrez, identified for his time at Newcastle United, was recognized with testicular most cancers in 2013. After present process surgical procedure and chemotherapy, Gutierrez remarkably returned to the pitch in 2015.
In his first season again, Gutierrez performed a pivotal function in serving to Newcastle keep away from relegation, scoring a vital aim within the season’s closing match.
Joe Thompson
While not a family identify English midfielder Joe Thompson has top-of-the-line comeback tales within the recreation. Thompson was recognized with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013 and totally recovered after present process chemotherapy. Tragically, in 2017, most cancers returned, and Thompson confronted yet one more battle for his life.
Towards all odds, Thompson defeated most cancers for a second time and made a sensational return to soccer in League One. In Could 2018, he scored the decisive aim for Rochdale to maintain them up on the final day of the season.
Santi Cazorla
Former Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla confronted a devastating setback when he was recognized with uncommon pores and skin most cancers in 2016. The analysis got here after a sequence of harm troubles and surgical procedures, which had already put his soccer profession in danger.
Cazorla underwent intensive remedy, together with a number of surgical procedures, and defied the chances by making an unimaginable comeback in 2018 when he signed for Villarreal. The gifted midfielder continues to defy the chances and continues to be taking part in on the age of 38.
David Brooks
Wales winger David Brooks returned to motion for the primary time since his most cancers remedy as an alternative choice to Bournemouth of their 3-0 Premier League defeat at Aston Villa. Brooks was recognized with Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2021 and in Could 2022 stated he was “cancer-free”.
The 25-year-old got here on for Adam Smith within the 79th minute at Villa Park for his first look in 536 days. Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil stated Brooks’ return was “big for everyone” on the membership. Brooks, who has received 21 caps for Wales and featured thrice at Euro 2020, final performed for Bournemouth in opposition to Peterborough on 29 September 2021.
