5 footballers who came back from life-threatening illnesses

Fabrice Muamba (L) and Stiliyan Petrov never played again after making a recovery“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I’m very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you, it is much, much more important than that.”This often repeated quote from the legendary Bill Shankly perfectly encapsulates what the beautiful game means to millions all over the world. Or, does it? Is it more rhetoric and sentiment than fact? Is it just a mere kickass punchline, which loses all its value when death stares at our face? Football may be the lives and sole obsessions of its chief protagonists. But some of them will tell you it pales in comparison to something more fundamental than sport – life, and the trials, tribulations and tests that it brings with it.Yuvraj Singh. Lance Armstrong. Leander Paes. Fabrice Muamba. John Hartson. Stiliyan Petrov. And more recently, Leandro Castan and Jonas Gutierrez. All of them will vouch for the fact that there’s nothing worse in life than fighting a seemingly losing battle against the maladies that struck them for no reason. All they could do were batten down the hatches, dig deep and fight the illnesses with everything they had. Just what they did while playing the sport they loved.Some of them fought a valiant battle in vain, others recovered but could never play the game again. But for some lucky and brave human beings, the illness was nothing more than a chapter and a hurdle that they crossed, before plying their trade again.Here are five such cases in football.

#1 Eric Abidal

Until 15 of March 2011, Eric Abidal had a perfect career. Three consecutive league titles with Lyon, a move to Barcelona where he became a vital cog in the Pep Guardiola juggernaut, a treble in just his second season, a defensive starter with the likes of Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and Dani Alves – he had it all. And then, he was diagnosed with a tumor in his liver.

The world was never the same again for the Frenchman, as ‘Animo Abidal’ messages flooded in from all parts of the world. Abidal played Manchester United in the Champions League final that season and Puyol poignantly handed over the armband to his friend when he lifted club football’s most prestigious trophy in front of 85,000 fans at football’s Mecca – Wembley Stadium.

He couldn’t fight for much longer though, as he was taken under the knife for an emergency liver transplant in March 2012. Again, goodwill came from all sides of the globe for the much-loved Frenchman, with Dani Alves even offering a part of his liver for his friend.

A year later, Abidal staged a miraculous comeback and ended his career in December 2014 while playing for Olympiakos.

#2 Darren Fletcher

A heinously unsung and underrated player at his prime, it is ironic that Darren Fletcher received all the adulation and praise he deserved only upon being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a disease that affects the bowel and the colon.

"Fletcher is more important than people think. His work in midfield, especially in the midfield 'wars', in crucial matches is very important. Manchester United will miss his pace and aggression in defensive actions: he 'eats' opponents in defensive transition.”

Those were the words of Jose Mourinho prior to the Red Devils’ encounter against Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League final. Fletcher was suspended for the game and his absence was sorely felt in midfield, as Xavi and Iniesta ran riot over a helpless United side.

Two successful seasons later, he had to take an enforced break from the game due to his condition. He came back the following season, captaining his side to raucous applause. However, he had to undergo further treatment and missed the entire season.

Needless to say, his indefatigable spirit came to the fore as he made a comeback the following season, and has cemented his place in the United squad ever since.

#3 Alan Stubbs

The burly defender from Lancashire had a long and successful career in the Scottish and English Leagues, with his best years coming at Celtic and Everton. The former signed him for a then-club record £4 million pounds in 1996/97.

His stint with the Scots went off to a flying start as they won the League Cup in his very first season before winning the league title the following season. However, Stubbs was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the summer of 1999. Surprisingly, he overcame the cancer with ease and made a stirring comeback in the League Cup final that season.

His nightmarish tryst with the emperor of maladies wasn’t over however, as the cancer came back the following season. Stubbs nearly gave in to the disease and moved to England, contemplating retirement. But, the defender wasn’t to be denied, as he overcame the disease again and joined Everton, where he became a defensive mainstay under David Moyes in two separate stints, either side of a short stay on Wearside with Sunderland.

After Alan Stubbs called it a day on his career in August 2008, the final score read: Stubbs 2-0 Cancer.

#4 Antonio Cassano

For all the Cassanata euphemisms made time and time again by Fabio Capello and the Italian paparazzi, one thing is for sure – Antonio Cassano was, is and always will be a rule unto himself. The Jewel of Old Bari has had a see-saw career which has seen him traverse various paths, playing for the biggest of clubs, only to be thrown out acrimoniously in the end.

Bari. Roma. Controversy. Real Madrid. More controversy. Sampdoria. Three years of relative stability. Controversy again. AC Milan. A controversial (kind of predictable, I know) switch to fierce rivals, Inter Milan. And now, Parma. This has been the story of a promising footballer whose career went awfully awry.

And it was during his time with the Rossoneri that Cassano was diagnosed with acute cerebral damage. After a successful brain surgery, disaster struck the Italian again, as he had to undergo a heart surgery, in the winter of 2011. Repeated issues with the brain and the heart would have spelt doom for the careers of most sportsmen. But like I said, Antonio Cassano is a law unto himself.

He came back swiftly and was included in the Euro 2012 squad, before he made some anti-gay remarks, sparking more controversy. Time to say “Cassanata” in true Italian style.

#5 Thiago Silva

Universally acclaimed as the best central defender in the world along with Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva is a player in the mould of the great Franco Baresi – not flashy, but he doesn’t have to be, because of his precise understanding of the game and exceptional anticipation.

After starring for local side Juventude as a 20-year old, the Brazilian skipper jumped shores when he signed for FC Porto. Dynamo Moscow came calling soon, and it was during his spell at the Arena Khimki that he was diagnosed with advanced tuberculosis. The defender’s health deteriorated rapidly, as his condition worsened from serious to critical in no time. After flirting with the possibility of death, the doctors helped him stage a miraculous recovery and persuaded the Brazilian to retire.

He didn’t pay heed to their advice though and started playing in a year, now in the familiar colours of Fluminense. With the help of his coach Ivo Wortmann, Silva’s health was up to speed in the span of a season. In his final match for the club, 50,000 fans cheered for O Monstro at the Maracana.

AC Milan came calling, and before long, he was the harbinger of a major revolution at PSG, where he’s still the captain and commander.