Gordon Strachan has paid tribute to friend and former teammate Alan Hansen, who is seriously ill in hospital.
One of Hansen’s former sides, Liverpool, announced the news via their social media channels on Sunday afternoon, sending their best wishes to the former defender and his family.
They also confirmed that they are in direct contact with the Hansen family and asked for his privacy to be respected.
Tributes have poured in for the 69-year-old, who played for Scotland alongside Strachan and the pair have remained close friends for a number of years since.
Former midfielder Strachan spoke on Thursday as he extended well wishes to his compatriot, adding that he is also thinking of him and wishes him well in his recovery.
Gordon Strachan has paid tribute to his friend and former teammate Alan Hansen, who is seriously ill in hospital
Liverpool, a former team of Hansen (right), announced the news online on Sunday afternoon
Strachan (fifth from left) and Hansen (second from right) played together for Scotland and have remained good friends ever since
“He’s also been a good teammate in golf,” Strachan said. “To be honest, I used to play with it [Kenny’] Dalglish and he were often beaten there too.
“Beating in football, beating in golf, I’m used to getting beat with him in golf. One of the most relaxed men in the world and one of the best players Scotland has ever seen.
‘We are thinking of him at the moment. He’s one of those guys where you think, he can’t get sick, he’s always in good shape, he looked good and he was cold.
‘All we can do is think of him. He is in our thoughts, all Strachans are thinking of him.’
Liverpool sent a heart-warming birthday message to Hansen on the day he turned 69, which was Thursday.
His former club wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “We are all thinking of Alan and his family on his 69th birthday,” accompanied by a heart emoji.
The Scot played for the Reds between 1977 and 1991, making 620 appearances for the club after joining from Partick Thistle. He retired in March 1991 and moved into broadcasting.
Hansen became one of the country’s most popular broadcasters, particularly for his work on Match of the Day.
He also became a newspaper columnist and coined the phrase ‘you can’t win anything with children’ after reviewing Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat by Aston Villa in 1995.
His last spell at the BBC was during the 2014 World Cup, with his contract expiring after the tournament.
Strachan labeled Hansen, who played for his country with the former midfielder, ‘one of the best players Scotland has ever seen’
Scotland assistant manager John Carver paid tribute to the former defender on the eve of the start of their Euro 2024 campaign
The Scottish FA, meanwhile, have sent their heartfelt wishes to national team icon Hansen ahead of their first match at Euro 2024.
Steve Clarke’s team will kick off the tournament on Friday evening against home country Germany, but will do so with Hansen firmly in mind.
Assistant manager John Carver said in the build-up to the match: ‘I would like to pass on a message and say that everyone, the players, the staff, everyone associated with the SFA, is really thinking about themselves. [Hansen] and his family because it is an extremely difficult time.
‘The main thing that struck me was that he was a fantastic defender, but he was also a ball-playing centre-back. He was probably one of the first ones I remember.”