- Nigel Pearson spent the final weeks of his time as Bristol City boss on crutches
- The 61-year-old has opened up about his health journey over the past year
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Nigel Pearson has revealed he had to learn to walk again due to his ‘neurological situation’
The former Leicester and Watford boss opened up about his health problem shortly before he was sacked by Bristol City in October. He admitted that the condition which had forced him to use crutches left him ‘frustrated’.
Now Pearson, 61, has provided an update on his health and the journey he has been on over the past year.
In one message on X On Monday he wrote: ‘I would like to thank all the kind people who have continued to give their support over the last thirteen months. I would like to keep you informed. Learning to walk again was an incredible challenge. My appreciation for the support from family, friends, colleagues, supporters and medical professionals was great.
‘I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to the US with my father to meet family for the first time, in Wisconsin.
‘Lately I’ve been able to cycle in the Peak District and swing golf clubs on the driving range, although my follow-up work requires some work (I haven’t fallen over yet!)
Nigel Pearson spent the final weeks of his reign as Bristol City boss on crutches
The 61-year-old shares this photo alongside his health update on social media site X
Nigel Pearson was promoted to the Premier League with Leicester City in 2014
‘Although my prognosis is still uncertain, believe me that positivity and laughter may prove to be the best medicine, as I experienced on a narrow canal boat with old friends from school on my birthday… there is always light somewhere in the future.. .new possibilities, new challenges.
‘Take care of each other and enjoy a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. Greetings, Nige’
Although the exact nature of his condition is unclear, Pearson assured supporters in October that testing had ruled out any “sinister possibility.”
“I know people know I need back surgery and that hasn’t changed,” he said BBC Radio Bristol.
‘But that’s not really the biggest problem for me at the moment. It’s a neurological situation, but I’m still waiting for further tests to find out what the prognosis is.
“The good news from my perspective is that all sinister possibilities, cancer, etc., have been ruled out.”
Pearson won promotion as Leicester manager in 2014 and was in charge for the 2014/15 season before being replaced by Claudio Ranieri at the end of the season.
He left Championsip side Bristol City in October after losing five of his last seven games.