- The former footballer learned his diagnosis of cancer after playing in a cup final
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A former footballer thinks he would not be alive now if he had chosen a different career path in his life.
The former player who won six major honors during his career spoke of painful admission, thinking about his life in a recent interview.
He learned of his cancer after a routine medication test after a match.
The player in question? The former defender of Bolton, Celtic and Everton Alan Stubbs.
Stubbs, 53, who fought against testiculum cancer twice – 28 and 29 years old – detailed how he learned his life.
The initial diagnosis of the central back came from the back of one of his happiest days of his career after helping Celtic to beat Dundee United 3-0 to win the 1999 Scottish League Cup final.
Alan Stubbs claims that he would have died if he was not a footballer because of their rigorous tests
Stubbs (high row, fourth on the right) learned of his diagnosis of cancer after helping Celtic to win the Scottish Cup final when he passed a medication test after the match
Speaking on the podcast undr the cosh, Stubbs says that being a footballer saved his life
Stubbs made 139 appearances for Celtic – winning six major honors during his stay there
The victory at Ibrox saw Stubbs recover his first piece of his silverware in his career, but his life was soon to turn remarkable after his post-match drug test.
Speaking on Undr the cosh podcast, Stubbs – who played 139 times for the Scottish giants – said about this drug test: I produced a hormone that is usually in pregnant women. When it is in men, it is generally linked to cancer.
“I dodged two balls (cancer). If I was not a footballer, I would be dead. As footballers, we always get the best advice or treatments and are always tested.
“This is why I always say that I was so lucky because if I was not a footballer, I would not have been chosen for a random screening test. Even after that, I would still not be pushed to the front of the queues to see specialists.
“I was diagnosed on Friday and I received treatment on Monday when people have to wait six months today.
“For people to turn around and say” how badly I am, I couldn’t be further from the truth. ” As I say if I was not a footballer, I would probably be dead – it’s as simple as that.
After the 1999 Scottish League Cup final, he underwent surgery and chemotherapy and recovered, to undergo a relapse in November 2000 which required additional treatment.
After a second operation in January 2001, the former defender of Bolton received the whole light and returned to the first Celtic team with a goal in a 5-2 victory in Hibernian in May 2001.
The six honors of Stubbs all came with Celtic where he won two league titles, a Scottish cup and three Scottish League cups.
