Timeline of Alan Hansen's health battle: From his shock admission to hospital that sparked emotional tributes to Liverpool's good news statement about his recovery

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has been discharged from hospital, his former club confirmed on Sunday.

Concern for the popular Scot - who made 620 appearances for the Reds as a player between 1977 and 1990 and won 25 team trophies - had been high when he was admitted to a hospital near Southport two weeks ago.

News of his ill health sparked waves of tributes from across the sporting world.

Graeme Souness and Gordon Strachan both spoke about their former team-mate, while Gary Lineker delivered emotional words both on social media and during the BBC's Euro 2024 coverage.

Following the positive update that Hansen will now be allowed to continue his recovery at home, Mail Sport looks back at how the past two weeks unfolded. 

Admitted to hospital

Liverpool announced on June 9 that Hansen was 'seriously ill' in hospital.

A club statement explained: 'The thoughts and support of everyone at Liverpool FC are with our legendary former captain Alan Hansen, who is currently seriously ill in hospital.

'A defender of the utmost elegance, Hansen's outstanding raft of honours across a 14-year spell with the Reds – he joined from Partick Thistle in 1977 – included eight league titles, three European Cups, two FA Cups and three League Cups.

'"Jocky", as he was known by team-mates, is in the top 10 for all-time appearances for the club having played 620 matches, and the Scottish centre-back also served as Liverpool skipper for four seasons.

'The club is currently in contact with Alan's family to provide our support at this difficult time, and our thoughts, wishes and hopes are with Alan and all of the Hansen family.

'We will provide any further updates as we receive them in due course, and we request that the Hansen family's privacy is respected at this time.'

Lineker leads well wishes

To football fans of a certain age, Hansen is known as one of the finest defenders the British game as ever produced.

However, to younger generations he is more famous for his role as a BBC Match of the Day pundit between 1992 and 2014.

Much of his time on the BBC was spent sat alongside ex-England captain Gary Lineker, who led well wishes following Liverpool's statement on June 9.

Lineker wrote on X (formerly Twitter): 'Horrendous news. Thoughts are with Alan, Janet and all the family'.

Mark Lawrenson - who played alongside Hansen at Liverpool and then sat next to him on the Match of the Day sofa for many years - added: 'Come on Big Al - you can beat this. Love to Janet, Adam, Lucy and all the family.... xx".

Scotland players 'thinking' of Hansen before Euros 

Hansen represented Scotland 26 times during his playing career, most notably at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

When the news of his hospitalisation broke earlier this month, the current Scotland squad were deep into the final stages of their preparations for Euro 2024 in Germany.

Scotland assistant manager John Carver said at a press conference on June 11: 'I would just like to pass a message on to say that everybody, the players, the staff, everybody connected with the SFA, are really thinking about himself and his family because it is an extremely difficult time.

'The biggest thing that I noticed was that he was a fantastic defender but he was a ball-playing centre half. He was probably one of the first that I can remember seeing play.

Hansen turns 69 in hospital

On June 13, Hansen's 69th birthday, Liverpool once again sent their thoughts to the star and his family.

The Premier League giants shared a photo of the defender lifting a trophy during his playing days. 

Liverpool posted on social media: 'We're all thinking of Alan and his family on his 69th birthday'.

Strachan reveals his shock and support

On June 14, Gordon Strachan - a former international team-mate of Hansen - delivered some touching words with a slice of Scottish humour.

Strachan said: 'He's been a good golfing team-mate as well. To be fair I used to play with [Kenny] Dalglish and him and used to get beat at that as well.

'Beat at football, beat at golf, I'm used to getting beat at golf with him. One of the world's most laid back men and one of the best players Scotland has ever seen.

'We're thinking about him at the moment. He's one of these guys where you think, "he can't get ill, he's always in good nick", he was looking well, chilled.

'All we can do is think about him. He's in our thoughts, all the Strachans are thinking about him.'

Lineker gets emotional on live TV

Euro 2024 started on June 14 and the first game saw Germany thrash Scotland 5-1.

That game was shown on ITV before the live BBC coverage began the following day. 

During the BBC's coverage of Italy's game against Albania, Lineker was visibly emotional as he spoke about Hansen.

'It's been a tough week for everyone associated with Match of the Day,' said Lineker.

Turning to his colleague Alan Shearer, he added: 'The news that Alan Hansen was seriously ill in hospital shocked us all, didn't it Alan?'

The former Newcastle striker responded: 'Oh absolutely. We are great friends with Al, we know his character we know he's a fighter, we know how tough he is.'

Shearer continued: 'We're thinking of you big man and we're with you, we're hoping and we're praying for you.'

Lineker then said: 'Everyone at Match of the Day sends love and thoughts to Janet, Lucy and Adam and the grand children.

'To use an analogy of Alan's favourite past-time, golf, he might be three down with four to play, but if anyone can come back from it, it's Alan. I've never known a more competitive person in my life. We're all with you big Al.'

Souness provides hope with positive update

On June 17, Graeme Souness revealed that he had personally spoken with Hansen the previous day and that 'he sounded fabulous'.

Mail Sport columnist Souness said he was hopeful about Hansen's condition because his friend and former team-mate 'did nothing but take the mickey out of me' during the call.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Souness added: 'I've been speaking to his son and Janet his wife and I've been phoning his phone, his phone number. I got on the train on Sunday and I was looking for my seat and my phone rang and I could see it was Big Al.

'I was thinking, "Oh no, don't answer that". So I sat down and got the courage to phone back and he answered the phone. He's been in a difficult place but the way he sounded yesterday, he's back, and I hope I'm right.'

More good news from Souness

Souness delivered another dose of good news via talkSPORT on June 23.

He told listeners that he had spoken to his old pal for a second time and was convinced Hansen was 'on the way back'. 

He said: 'Anyone who's met Alan Hansen, he has a wicked sense of humour. So I've had two conversations with him in the last five, six days.

'Both conversations were me on the receiving end of his humour, so that tells me he's on the way back.'

A message from the Hansen family 

Liverpool confirmed Hansen had left hospital on June 23 with a statement titled: 'A message from the Hansen family'.

The statement read in full: 'Alan has been discharged from hospital today to continue his recovery at home.

'Alan, Janet, Adam, Lucy and family would like to thank everybody for their wonderful messages of love and support.

'It has been overwhelming and has helped enormously.

'We also hugely appreciate the ongoing respect that has been shown for our privacy as Alan continues his recovery. Thank you.'

The update was welcomed across the footballing world, with former team-mates and colleagues again showing their support.