Sir Kenny Dalglish, one of the most celebrated players in British soccer history, is undergoing treatment for cancer. The 75-year-old had intended to keep the diagnosis private but was forced to confirm it publicly after accidentally sharing the news in what he called an "inadvertent social media post."
"I am currently undergoing treatment for cancer," Dalglish wrote on social media. "Unlike my mobile phone use, the treatment is going well. Ideally, this would have remained private because that's the way it should be, but my useless technology skills have forced my hand. Obviously I did not mean to make this matter public so I would appreciate it if the privacy of my family and myself are respected. As ever, thank you to the wonderful medical staff who have shown incredible care and discretion, not just for me but for many, many others. They are a credit to themselves."
Dalglish is a towering figure in Scottish and English soccer. He scored 30 goals in 102 appearances for Scotland, a joint national record alongside Denis Law, and remains the country's most capped player. At Celtic, he scored 167 goals in 320 appearances between 1969 and 1977, winning four league titles and four Scottish Cups.
He signed for Liverpool for a then British record fee of £440,000 and led the club through one of its most successful eras, winning three European Cups and eight First Division titles across 515 appearances. He was appointed player-manager in 1985, a spell in which he guided the club to two FA Cups and led Liverpool through the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.
He later managed Blackburn Rovers, where he won the Premier League in 1995, as well as Newcastle, Celtic, and Liverpool again in 2011 and 2012.
Liverpool released a statement in response to the news. "The support, best wishes and love of everyone at Liverpool FC are, and will be, with Sir Kenny and his family," the club said. Former teammate Ian Rush posted: "The King is one of the strongest and most positive people I've ever known. If anyone can face this battle with courage and determination, it's King Kenny. We're all behind you."
The BBC reported that the news came just one day after another Liverpool great, Kevin Keegan, revealed he has stage four cancer.
