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#3 Abdelhak Nouri
One of the most recent tragedies in football saw the immensely talented Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri collapse to the ground during a friendly match.
A product of Ajax’s youth academy, Nouri stood out among his peers, and was dubbed the next big thing to come out of the famed academy. The former Netherlands U21 international was also awarded the 2016-17 Player of the Season award for his performances for Ajax’s reserve side. He made his senior-team debut that same season, and earned first-team promotion for the 2017-18 campaign.
However, in a preseason friendly ahead of the 2017-18 season, Nouri collapsed on the pitch against Werder Bremen. The 24-year old was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, but his condition seemed to be stable. However, five days following the incident, Ajax announced that the youngster had suffered severe and permanent brain damage. He was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
After nearly three years, Abdelhak Nouri woke up from his coma, and is now able to communicate with and recognise his family and friends. Football lost another gem in Nouri, but thankfully, he still lives to fight another day.
Ajax officials later admitted that their negligence on the pitch to provide prompt treatment caused Nouri’s permanent brain damage. A lawsuit was filed by Nouri’s family against the club in front of the Royal Dutch Football Association’s arbitration panel.
#2 Ruben de la Red
Real Madrid’s youth academy product Ruben de la Red was one of the most promising youngsters coming through the ranks in Spanish football.
The Spaniard made a move to Getafe in the summer of 2007 in search of first-team minutes. De la Red was so impressive during his time at Getafe that Los Blancos brought him back the following summer.
The central midfielder also earned three caps for the Spanish national team, scoring a goal against Greece at Euro 2008. In an unfortunate incident, though, Ruben de la Red collapsed to the floor in a Copa Del Rey game against Real Union.
Following medical examinations, the Spaniard was diagnosed with a rare heart condition, which ruled him out of action for at least two years. While De la Red remained hopeful of a return, he could never make a return, and retired at the young age of 25.
The Spaniard returned to football in a managerial capacity with the Real Madrid U19 and U17 sides. He also served as manager of Getafe’s reserve team.
#1 Fabrice Muamba
Fabrice Muamba’s tragic cardiac arrest in the middle of a FA Cup quarter-final game is one of the most heart-wrenching moments in football. However, his return to that same pitch sixteen days after the horrific incident was a miraculous and emotional moment for everyone.
Muamba began his footballing journey at Arsenal’s youth set-up, making his first-team debut in the 2005-06 season. After a loan spell at Birmingham City, the Englishman made a permanent move to the Championship side. The central midfielder helped secure Premier League promotion for the West Midlands outfit.
He spent the best years of his career at the Reebok Stadium during his four-season stint at Bolton Wanderers. The tragic incident occurred on the 17th of March, 2012, during a FA Cup quarter-final clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
Muamba had suffered cardiac arrest, and later reports revealed that his heart stopped beating for 78 minutes. After spending almost a month in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), he was discharged from hospital.
The Englishman returned to White Hart Lane to deliver an emotional speech before announcing his retirement from professional football.
