Glenn Hoddle’s heart could be healthier than ever after recovering from health scare.. but expert warns Champions League thriller could have caused fans to have a cardiac arrest
- Glenn Hoddle watched on as his beloved Tottenham beat Ajax against the odds
- Spurs qualified for their first ever Champions League final as a result
- Hoddle leapt to his feet in celebration despite not long since returning to work
- He had time off after recovering from a near-fatal heart attack in November
As his beloved Tottenham Hotspur secured a dramatic last-minute Champions League semi-final win, friends and family of former manager Glenn Hoddle might have feared for his health.
Hoddle could be seen leaping from his seat in the BT Sport studio and being grabbed by fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand as Lucas Moura scored the winning goal for Spurs against Ajax.
He suffered a near-fatal heart attack last November while working for the same TV company.
Glenn Hoddle watched on as his beloved Tottenham beat Ajax against the odds
Hoddle recently had time off after recovering from a near-fatal heart attack in November
As Spurs secured a place in next month’s Champions League final against Liverpool on Wednesday night, BT Sport presenter Gary Lineker asked Hoddle if he was ‘alright’ after watching the game’s dramatic finale.
A smiling Hoddle replied: ‘Yeah I am fine. I’ve never been happier. I am so glad I am still around to see this. Being a Spurs fan from eight years of age – what a proud moment.’
One expert said he would not be surprised if some Tottenham and Ajax fans suffered cardiac arrests both at home and abroad as they watched the thrilling finale of the Champions League semi-final.
Fellow pundits Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand joked about Hoddle following the celebration
Hoddle admitted how much the occasion meant, and thanked doctors for helping him last year
Dr Alexander Lyon, a senior lecturer and honorary consultant cardiologist at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital, is a lifelong Spurs fan and watched the last minute victory over Ajax. He has researched how traumatic or stressful events can cause heart problems.
‘Such was the nature of the game and the dramatic ending, that would not surprise me,’ he said on Thursday.
Dr Lyon said Hoddle’s health may in fact have been improved after last year’s heart scare. He said: ‘Obviously Glenn Hoddle had a heart attack after he suffered blockages of the arteries.
‘However having had his own heart attack it may well be that watching his beloved Spurs last night he might have been able to cope better which is a really good sign.
Tottenham pulled off an amazing comeback in Amsterdam to book their place in the final
‘This is because after suffering such a serious illness he was able to cope better because of the medication he would have undoubtedly been given since his cardiac arrest.
‘For Glenn it would have been an exhilarating roller coaster ride watching his beloved Tottenham win the match.’
A study of the World Cup in Germany in 2006 revealed there was massive increases in the number of heart attacks during exciting matches and penalty shoot-outs.
The German study revealed that 4,279 people suffered acute cardiovascular events during time periods researched with 302 of these events occurring over the seven days that Germany had World Cup matches.