MOTHERWELL captain Phil O'Donnell died after collapsing during his team's match against Dundee United.
The 35-year-old midfielder is believed to have suffered a seizure at Fir Park where medical staff from both football clubs made efforts to revive him en route to Wishaw General Hospital. O'Donnell did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead at 5pm last night.
Bill Dickie, Motherwell Football Club's chairman said: "Unfortunately I can confirm very, very sad news that Phil O'Donnell has lost his life. We don't know what it was but there will be a post-mortem. This is a tragic happening and that's all I can say."
The 35-year-old father of four was taken off the pitch on a stretcher 12 minutes from the end of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League match.
He was set to be replaced by substitute Marc Fitzpatrick in a match that Motherwell won 5-3 but collapsed as the change was taking place.
After being treated for around five minutes on the field, he was carried off on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
O'Donnell's nephew, David Clarkson, was also playing in the match, and was substituted after being shocked by the incident.
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee said: "I don't want to say anything more than how devastated everyone at the club is for his wife and his young children.
"That's what we are all feeling tonight. Nothing else matters.
"Obviously from the club's point of view we'll gather round to give his family as much support as they need."
Motherwell owner John Boyle said: "This is an unspeakable tragedy for Phil's family. At this stage we do not know the exact cause of death but the club is obviously liaising with the medical staff at Wishaw General.
"Everyone at Motherwell is shocked to the core and we are sure that everyone involved in Scottish football will feel the same. Phil was not only an inspirational player for Motherwell and club captain, but was an inspirational person.
"All of us at Motherwell are thinking of his wife Eileen and their four children."
As news broke last night of his death former team mates and prominent figures in Scottish football paid tribute to the skipper. Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell expressed the club's sadness at the death of their former player.
"When the news came through, everyone at the club was obviously shocked," he said.
"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."
Former First Minister Jack McConnell, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said he would be "sadly missed by his family and by football fans but he will be mourned by the whole community.
"Phil O'Donnell was a great professional who was admired by fellow players and fans alike.
"As captain he helped transform Motherwell this season."
Gordon Smith, chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, said the news was "absolutely devastating."
"Phil was not just a wonderful footballer, he was a great human being. My thoughts are with his family at this tragic time."
Former Motherwell team mate John Philliben, who played with O'Donnell at Fir Park in the early 1990s, spoke of his shock at hearing the news.
"Phil was a really nice guy who came into Motherwell when a youngster and worked really hard," he said.
"I watched him make his debut against St Mirren and play in the cup final for Motherwell before his move to Celtic.
"It will be a sad loss for his family and the club and I'm still in shock trying to take it all in."
Motherwell have had to deal with tragedy in the past. In 1995 Davie Cooper, the team's winger, died at the age of 39 after suffering a brain haemorrhage when filming a training video. Cooper had been a Motherwell team-mate of O'Donnell for several years.
O'Donnell made his Motherwell debut as a 17-year-old and went on to score, as a 19-year-old, in the 4-3 victory over Dundee United in the 1991 Scottish Cup final. He also won a Scotland cap in 1993, as a substitute in the World Cup qualifier against Switzerland.
He returned to Motherwell after being released by Sheffield Wednesday in 2003, and made his second debut for the club in January 2004.
He played for Motherwell in the 2005 Scottish League Cup final and was appointed captain in 2006, after former skipper Scott Leitch left the club.
Career
- 1990-1994 Motherwell 112 appearances 15 goals
- 1994-1999 Celtic 89 appearances 16 goals
- 1999-2003 Sheffield Wednesday 20 appearances
- 2004-2007 Motherwell 77 appearances 8 goals
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