Motherwell Captain Collapses On Pitch And Dies

[Peter Parka]

Motherwell captain O'Donnell dies
Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell has died after collapsing towards the end of his side's Scottish Premier League game against Dundee United.

The 35-year-old midfielder fell to the ground just as he was about to be replaced with Marc Fitzpatrick near the end of Motherwell's 5-3 victory.

O'Donnell was treated for around five minutes on the field before being taken to a waiting ambulance.

But his death was later confirmed by Well chairman Bill Dickie.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee had spoken briefly to the press after the game before going to hospital to find out how the skipper was.


PHIL O'DONNELL'S CAREER
1972 - born in Hamilton
1991 - joins Motherwell
1991 - scores in Scottish Cup final victory over Dundee United
1993 - earns only Scotland cap against Switzerland
1994 - sold to Celtic for a club record £1.75m
1999 - signs for Sheffield Wednesday
2003 - released after injury-hit spell at Wednesday
2004 - returns to Motherwell, becoming club captain

"He's had some sort of collapse," he said.

McGhee said O'Donnell's substitution had been "an absolute coincidence" before his sudden collapse.

"We just felt we would save him a bit for Wednesday," said the manager.

O'Donnell's nephew, David Clarkson, was substituted moments later after scoring two goals in the Scottish Premier League match.

McGhee said: "We took Clarkson off because he got a fright from the nature of the collapse.

"A few of the boys got a fright."

A news conference has been called at Wishaw General Hospital, which will be addressed by chief executive Ian Stillie.

Story from BBC SPORT:

So tragic, shocking and sad! R.I.P.

 

[skyblue]

thats bad......very bad........i hope his family are being given the privicy they need

 

[Peter Parka]

Brown leads tributes to O'Donnell
Former Scotland boss Craig Brown led the tributes to Motherwell's Phil O'Donnell, who collapsed and died during their match with Dundee United. "But for injury, I'm sure he would have had many, many more caps," said Brown, who gave O'Donnell his only honour.
"I think in his first spell at Motherwell he was probably the best box-to-box midfield player - maybe not just in Scotland but in the UK.
"He was a Steven Gerrard-type player. It was no surprise he joined Celtic."


Brown helped develop O'Donnell's talents during his time as Scotland Under-21 coach.
"There is no doubt that anyone who knew Phil O'Donnell knew he was a gentleman, a good family man, a courteous, polite, totally conscientious guy," he said.




"It's very, very sad news. I just can't get over it.
"You would not get a more ideal role model for a young footballer than Phil O'Donnell.
"I think everyone in the game will acknowledge what a wonderful player he was and an outstanding gentleman and I would expect to have a minute's applause at every ground in Scotland at the next fixture."
Motherwell's match against Hibernian on 2 January has been postponed, but all the other Scottish Premier League games on that day will go ahead as planned.


The Fir Park club's next fixture, against Celtic, is currently under discussion.
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith was another who knew O'Donnell for many years.
"This is absolutely devastating news," he said.
"Phil was not just a wonderful footballer, he was a great human being."
Former First Minister Jack McConnell, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, thought the loss would be felt throughout Lanarkshire.
"Phil O'Donnell was a great professional who was admired by fellow players and fans alike," he said.
"As captain, he helped transform Motherwell this season.




"Phil will be sadly missed by his family and by football fans, but he will be mourned by the whole community."
Motherwell striker Chris Porter paid an emotional tribute to his team-mate O'Donnell.
"He was an amazing guy," said Porter, who joined Motherwell from Oldham in the summer.
"When I first came he was the first person I met. He came out especially to meet me.
"It's a massive loss to Motherwell. He was just a great player and a great person. Everyone will miss him."

Story from BBC SPORT:


Don't know if I would go so far as to compare him to Gerrard if he hadn't been injured but still a very very sad loss.

 

[Peter Parka]

Tributes flood in for O'Donnell
Former Scotland boss Craig Brown led the tributes to Motherwell's Phil O'Donnell, who collapsed and died during their match with Dundee United. "But for injury, I'm sure he would have had many, many more caps," said Brown, who gave O'Donnell his only honour.
Former Motherwell boss Terry Butcher added: "He was the perfect role model to any young professional.
"The way he went about his work rubbed off on all the Motherwell players when I was there."


"Phil was part of a very big and a very strong family and they'll need that strength now because you just can't imagine a professional footballer getting prepared for a game, playing the game and then not going back home," said former England captain Butcher.
"Everybody loved him, I don't know anyone in the game who did not like Phil O'Donnell."
O'Donnell had two spells at Motherwell, the first successfully earning him a big-money move to Celtic and then Sheffield Wednesday.
But injuries meant he was released from the Yorkshire club and he was enjoying his second spell at Motherwell as club captain.
Brown helped develop O'Donnell's talents during his time as Scotland Under-21 coach and said he was a player of real promise.




"I think in his first spell at Motherwell he was probably the best box-to-box midfield player - maybe not just in Scotland but in the UK.
"He was a Steven Gerrard-type player. It was no surprise he joined Celtic.
"There is no doubt that anyone who knew Phil O'Donnell knew he was a gentleman, a good family man, a courteous, polite, totally conscientious guy," he said.
"It's very, very sad news. I just can't get over it.
"I think everyone in the game will acknowledge what a wonderful player he was and an outstanding gentleman and I would expect to have a minute's applause at every ground in Scotland at the next fixture."
Motherwell's match against Hibernian on 2 January has been postponed, but all the other Scottish Premier League games on that day will go ahead as planned.


The Fir Park club's next fixture, against Celtic, is currently under discussion.
Former Motherwell player and director of football at the club Pat Nevin said that O'Donnell's second spell with Motherwell cut short a return to form after an injury-blighted career.
"In all my time in Scottish football I can't remember a bad word said about Phil O'Donnell and that speaks volumes considering what is usually said about footballers," said Nevin.
"If a player ever deserved a Indian summer in his career it was Phil and he was having that at Motherwell - they were having a great time this year.
"He was club captain and he was making the very best of it. It was terribly tragic because he really deserved this period of happiness and success at Motherwell."
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith was another who knew O'Donnell for many years.
"This is absolutely devastating news," he said.
"Phil was not just a wonderful footballer, he was a great human being."
Former First Minister Jack McConnell, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, thought the loss would be felt throughout Lanarkshire.
"Phil O'Donnell was a great professional who was admired by fellow players and fans alike," he said.
"As captain, he helped transform Motherwell this season.




"Phil will be sadly missed by his family and by football fans, but he will be mourned by the whole community."
Motherwell striker Chris Porter paid an emotional tribute to his team-mate O'Donnell.
"He was an amazing guy," said Porter, who joined Motherwell from Oldham in the summer.
"When I first came he was the first person I met. He came out especially to meet me.
"It's a massive loss to Motherwell. He was just a great player and a great person. Everyone will miss him."

Story from BBC SPORT:

 

[Merrinn]

I heard about this yesterday...very sad indeed. Is there any word yet on the cause of death? It's frightening when someone who is obviously in peak physical health dies suddenly like this.

 

[Peter Parka]

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