Tragedia nel calcio scozzese

Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell dies after collapse


Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell has died after collapsing during his team's match against Dundee United, club chairman Bill Dickie confirmed.


O'Donnell, who was 35, was taken off the pitch at Fir Park on a stretcher in the closing stages of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League match.

He was set to be replaced by substitute Marc Fitzpatrick in a match Motherwell won 5-3, but fell to the pitch as the change was taking place.

After been treated for around five minutes on the field, O'Donnell was carried off on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

O'Donnell's nephew, David Clarkson, was also playing in the match, and was taken off after being alarmed by the incident.

O'Donnell, who won one Scotland cap, began his career with Motherwell and rejoined the club in 2004 following spells with Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday.

R.I.P. Phil

Letta proprio adesso...
Fonte: BBC

Motherwell captain O'Donnell dies
O'Donnell helped Motherwell to a fine win over Dundee United
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.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith led the tributes.


"This is absolutely devastating news," he said.

"Phil was not just a wonderful footballer, he was a great human being.

"My thoughts are with his family at this tragic time."

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

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


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

"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.


O'Donnell, who earned one cap for Scotland, was lauded as one of the country's brightest talents when he broke into the Motherwell first team as a teenager.

He moved on to Celtic for a club record £1.75m fee, but injury problems were to blight his time with the Glasgow club and his next club, Sheffield Wednesday.

O'Donnell returned to Motherwell in 2004 and became club captain, playing beside his nephew.

foto: repubblica.it

Rinviato per lutto il derby di Glasgow dopo la morte di Phil O'Donnell, capitano del Motherwell ed ex Celtic.

Fonte: BBC


Old Firm match postponed by SPL

Wednesday's Old Firm match has been postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell.

O'Donnell died after collapsing during Saturday's match against Dundee United.

The Scottish Premier League decided to postpone the game following a request by O'Donnell's former club Celtic.

SPL secretary Iain Blair said: "These are never easy decisions. But we recognise that as a former player, Phil was part of Celtic's extended family."

Blair said Celtic requested for the game to be postponed on Monday morning.

"After consultation with Rangers we agreed to postpone the Old Firm fixture on 2 January," he added.

A date has yet to be set for the game to be played.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said several players at the club had been affected by O'Donnell's death.

"Phil's second club was probably Celtic friends-wise and the reaction, when the news came through the other day, you knew he had a lot of close friends here, that's for sure," he said.

"I don't think I've seen a reaction like that in football. We are all trying to get our heads round the fact he has got four kids and a young wife.

"It's been hard to take in. The whole weekend has become a kind of a numb feeling."

BBC Scotland football correspondent Chick Young's view

Rangers manager Walter Smith added: "It's a very difficult time for everyone, especially the lad's family.

"Our thoughts across football would go to his family first and foremost.

"I don't think you can think about playing. For those of us that are in the game, the only thing that matters is that we show a proper degree of sympathy to his family."

Motherwell's match against Hibernian and Gretna's game with St Mirren had already been postponed.

Three SPL games - Aberdeen v Inverness, Dundee Utd v Hearts and Kilmarnock v Falkirk will be played on 2 January.

SPL executive chairman Lex Gold has urged fans at those fixtures to take part in a minute's applause before kick-off.

All players will wear black armbands during those games and Gold said: "Wednesday will be a day of respect in the memory of Phil O'Donnell."

Scottish Football League operations director David Thomson told BBC Scotland there were no plans to call off SFL fixtures on 2 January.

"We've had no requests from any clubs and it's never an easy decision," he said.

Thomson also said that the SFL had requested that all clubs observe either a minute's silence or applause before kick-off.