Motherwell Captain Dies Following Match
Saturday, December 29th, 2007 by Dina Ely
In a tragic end to 2007 for British soccer, Motherwell captain Phil O’Donnell died on Saturday after collapsing during his team’s Scottish Premier League match against Dundee United. O’Donnell was 35.
The midfielder was in the process of being substituted late in the game when he suffered what is tentatively being reported as a seizure on the pitch. He was treated for five minutes on-site before being rushed to hospital, where he died at 5:18pm local time. Cause of death has not yet been determined.
O’Donnell began and ended his career at Motherwell, where he returned in 2004 after stays with Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday. He debuted with Motherwell during the 1990/1991 season; his contributions against Dundee United in that year’s Scottish Cup final earned him a winner’s medal. In 1994 he moved to Celtic for a fee of £1.75 million, reportedly the highest fee Motherwell has ever received for a player.
Injuries plagued O’Donnell and hampered his international career. He achieved only one cap for Scotland, but former national manager Craig Brown told Sky Sports “But for injury, I’m sure he would have had many, many more caps.”
O’Donnell played alongside his nephew, David Clarkson, who joined Motherwell in 2002. Clarkson was on the pitch at the time of his uncle’s collapse; he was substituted shortly thereafter as he was disturbed by the event. Clarkson scored 2 of Motherwell’s 5 goals against Dundee United. The final score was Motherwell 5-3 Dundee Utd.
O’Donnell’s death has plunged his clubs, fans, and country into mourning. As the night progressed Motherwell supporters rallied with makeshift shrines, many in tears. In the same interview with Sky Sports, Brown expressed his hope that there will be an act of remembrance for O’Donnell across Scottish football during next week’s round of matches. Motherwell’s January 2nd match against Hibernian has been postponed.
O’Donnell leaves behind his wife Eileen and their four children. When asked for comment, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell remarked, “Obviously our thoughts are with his family to whom we offer extreme condolences for a tragic loss of a young life. Everyone at Celtic Park will mourn him.”
Source:
ESPN
International Herald Tribune
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