Tottenham Hotspur have announced that manager Harry Redknapp successfully underwent a heart procedure to unblock coronary arteries today, while AC Milan announced that Antonio Cassano has experienced ischemic cerebral damage and will undergo heart surgery in the next couple of days.
A statement on the Spurs web site said:
The Club can report that earlier today Harry successfully had two stents inserted to unblock coronary arteries. He is in excellent spirits and due to be discharged from hospital in the next 48 hours.
Chairman Daniel Levy said, “We are delighted the operation went so smoothly and successfully. Knowing Harry he will want to rush back, but it’s important that he only does so when he has recovered properly. Harry has asked us to pass on his thanks to all the many, many fans who have sent goodwill messages.
Spurs have confirmed that Redknapp would miss the away match against Rubin Kazan next Thursday and that assistant manager Kevin Bond and first-team coach Joe Jordan will take charge of the team for that match. Spurs play Fulham this weekend and the club has not said whether Harry will be on the bench for that match.
Redknapp aditted in March 2010 that he had started talking heart pills upon the advice of his doctors, but stressed it was not a major problem. Writing in his Sun column, Redknapp then said:
“About a year ago I needed to take heart pills and I am still taking them regularly… I am absolutely fine and have no worries about my health but this game can make the most mild-mannered of people explode as when you are sitting on the bench you get eaten up inside from first to last whistle.”
In Milan there have been all sorts of rumors about what happened to Antonio Cassano on the plane trip back to Milan on Saturday after Milan‘s 3-2 win over AS Roma in Rome. Earlier reports said that Cassano had suffered a stroke, but it now seems that he has experienced ischemic cerebral damage and will be out for several months.
A statement on the AC Milan web site said:
AC Milan, according to medical reports of the Policlinico in Milan, have said that Antonio Cassano has experienced ischemic cerebral damage. The instrumental and neuroradiological examinations required 72 hours for their course and have highlighted the problem in the circumscribed area of the brain that did not result in persistent neurological deficits. The cause was identified as the presence of a patent foramen ovale septal heart, detectable only with sophisticated specialized investigations. The timing of therapy established has allowed a rapid recovery and improvement of clinical conditions that are good.
In the coming days the player will undergo a small surgical interventional cardiology (closure of the foramen ovale), the recovery time for return to playing will be better defined after the surgery, but probably will be a few months.
AC Milan gratefully acknowledges the facilities of the Polyclinic of Milan for what they are doing with great promptness and professionalism.
So strange that we get two heart stories in one day, and we naturally wish both Harry Redknapp and Antonio Cassano speedy recoveries.
