Tottenham legend Pat Jennings was rushed to the hospital before Monday’s Premier League match against Chelsea.
Pat Jennings, a beloved figure at Tottenham, was hospitalized following his sudden collapse before the Premier League game against Chelsea on Monday. The former goalkeeper, who also had a distinguished eight-year stint with North London rivals Arsenal, had to be transported to a nearby hospital when he fell ill at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Reports indicate that Jennings fell unwell just prior to the highly anticipated clash between Spurs and Chelsea. The 78-year-old football icon reportedly collapsed and received prompt attention from the stadium’s medical team.
Subsequently, Jennings was swiftly taken to a local hospital for further medical evaluation and care. According to the Daily Mail, the Northern Ireland legend’s condition improved as the night progressed.
Pat Jennings, renowned for his goalkeeping prowess, made an impressive 472 appearances for Tottenham between 1964 and 1977. His football career also included successful stints with North London rivals Arsenal, during which he helped secure the FA Cup in 1979. Hailing from Newry, he initially launched his football journey at Watford.
In a touching tribute, a statue of Pat Jennings is scheduled to be unveiled in his hometown on Wednesday. In a recent interview with the same publication, he reflected on his extraordinary ability to catch the ball with a single hand while airborne.
He shared, “I was brought up with Gaelic football because I went to a Catholic school, and we weren’t allowed to play soccer. I played in midfield, battling for possession as the ball moved from the back to the forwards, constantly using my hands to compete with others. When I transitioned to serious soccer, there were crosses coming in, and I found myself towering three feet above everyone else.”
Pat Jennings’ health scare occurred before Tottenham’s dramatic 4-1 loss to Chelsea. Despite initially taking the lead, Tottenham’s fortunes took a turn for the worse as Son Heung-min’s second goal was disallowed. Ange Postecoglou’s team suffered two red cards on either side of halftime, leading to a Chelsea victory. Cole Palmer converted a penalty, while Nicolas Jackson netted a hat-trick after Tottenham found themselves with only nine players following the dismissals of Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.
This defeat marked the end of Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season, and they are now preparing to face Wolves on Saturday.