By David Gold
August 17 – Fabrice Muamba has announced his retirement from football, months after miraculously surviving a heart attack during an English FA Cup tie.
The Bolton Wanderers midfielder collapsed in a game against Tottenham Hotspur, and was technically dead for over an hour before being revived.
He has subsequently made a remarkable recovery and revealed that he had hoped to be able to take to the field again and continue his career.
While undergoing a minor operation in Belgium last week, Muamba (pictured above), who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but moved to Britain in his youth, was advised to put an end to his career.
Muamba was brought through the youth system of Arsenal and played for the England under 21s before going on to sign for Birmingham City and then Bolton.
Although the player was disappointed that he could not continue his career, the fact that he was in a position to make such a decision was remarkable enough in itself, something he was keen to stress when he made the announcement.
“While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for,” he said.
“I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute once again to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me.
“Since suffering my heart attack and being discharged from hospital, I have remained utterly positive in the belief I could one day resume my playing career.
“Above all else, I love the game and count myself very lucky to have been able to play at the highest level.
“As part of my ongoing recovery, last week I travelled to Belgium to seek further medical advice from a leading cardiologist, but the news I received was obviously not what I had hoped it would be and it means I am now announcing my retirement from professional football.”
Muamba’s heart attack was caused by a rare condition that is exacerbated by strenuous exercise, and which just weeks after he collapsed against Tottenham, caused the death of another player, Piermario Morosini, while playing for Livorno in Italy.
It has been mooted that he will be offered a role with Bolton, who were relegated from the Premier League last season.
Their manager, Owen Coyle, said: “We have spoken with Fab and he knows we will always support him in whatever he wants to do and that we will always be here for him.
“He is obviously massively disappointed that he won’t be able to carry on his career, but everyone has seen what a fighter and strong person he is in mind and body.
“We know that he will go on to achieve great things and within all this disappointment, the most important thing is that he is here, alive, today.”
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