Sport | Football

Tragic legacy of death on the football pitch

UAE national team and Al Nasr striker Salim Sa'ad's death during training brings to the fore the tragic legacy of death on the football pitch. Here's a tribute to some of the top football players who died while playing the game they loved most.

  • By Staff Reporter, Gulf News
  • Published: 13:01 November 19, 2009
  • Salim Saad
    Salim Saad

    November 2009: UAE national team and Al Nasr striker Salim Sa'ad collapsed during training at Al Nasr Wednesday night and was confirmed dead after being rushed to the Rashid Hospital. The 31-year old was the younger brother of UAE Beach Soccer team skipper Bakhit Saad and Khamis Saad, both who served the UAE and Al Shabab Club over the years.

  • Dani Jarque
    Dani Jarque

    August 2009: The captain of Spanish top flight side Espanyol died from heart failure while on a pre-season tour of Italy. The 26-year-old defender collapsed in his hotel room after training while on the phone to his girlfriend, who was seven months pregnant at the time.

  • Phil O'Donnell
    Phil O'Donnell

    December 2007: The former Scottish international collapsed after having a seizure on the pitch during his team's 5-3 win over Dundee United, he died on the way to hospital. The 35-year-old father of four was a popular player in Scottish football. He also played for Glasgow giants Celtic and English side Sheffield Wednesday.

  • Antonio Puerta
    Antonio Puerta

    August 2007: One of the most shocking deaths came when the 22-year-old Sevilla and Spanish international player suffered several heart attacks during a Primera Liga match against Getafe. International team-mate Sergio Ramos wore a t-shirt with Puerta's picture on the front during Spain's celebrations for winning Euro 2008.

  • Mohamed Abdelwahab
    Mohamed Abdelwahab

    August 2006: The 23-year-old died after collapsing during a training session with his club Al Ahly. It was later found that he had a heart defect which had not been previously detected. He was part of the Egyptian side that won the 2006 African Nations Cup.

  • Miklos Feher
    Miklos Feher

    January 2004: The 24-year-old Benfica and Hungary striker collapsed at the end of a televised game against Vitoria in 2004, but was pronounced dead hours later. He had come on as a substitute and got an assist in the game’s winning goal. As a mark of respect, the Portuguese side retired his number 29 shirt.

  • Marc-Vivien Foe
    Marc-Vivien Foe

    June 2003: The 28-year-old Cameroon midfielder collapsed on the pitch while playing in a Confederations Cup semi final game against Colombia. The Manchester City player died in hospital shortly afterwards.

Related Articles

More from Football

  1. Real Madrid, Barcelona top list of rich clubs

  2. Sunderland sneak into next round

  3. Capello's final decision is his best

  4. Fabregas on target as Barca storm into final

All articles in Football

More from Sport

Popular in Sport
A physiotherapist attends to Philippine Azkals’ vice-captain Emelio ‘Chieffy’ Caligdong during the first practice session of the Philippine national football team at the Al Nasr Sports Club in Dubai on Wednesday.

Football

Caligdong defies pain to train with Azkals

Marcel Siem in action on Day One of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Moist early morning conditions affected the German’s game, who now trails the leader by two shots.

Golf

Mud balls wreak havoc for Siem

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar is awarded the Hall of Fame cap by another former captain, Kapil Dev, as (from left) former cricketers Waqar Younis, Rameez Raja and Aamir Sohail; M.K. Lokesh, India’s Ambassador to the UAE; Haroon Lorgat, ICC chief executive; and Ajay Sethi, Channel 2 Group Corporation chairman, look on at a ceremony held at Sethi’s house on Wednesday.

Cricket

Gavaskar inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Sport Editor's choice