Former Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery for a double leg break. The 39-year-old sustained the horrific injury while playing for Wythenshawe over-35s in the Cheshire Veterans Premier Division Cup final against South Liverpool on Sunday, following a sickening challenge.
Incident and Surgery
The incident occurred in the first half when Ireland came off worse in a 50/50 challenge. Wythenshawe were 3-0 up at the time, courtesy of a hat-trick from former Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse. Ireland reportedly waited approximately 30 minutes for an ambulance, which arrived on the pitch at Warrington Rylands' Gorsey Lane, before being taken to a nearby hospital.
Ireland's wife, Jessica, confirmed he had broken both his tibia and fibula, requiring surgical intervention. The former professional footballer, who also played for Aston Villa and Stoke City, is now on the road to recovery.
Jessica's Instagram Update
Taking to Instagram, Jessica posted a touching photograph holding Ireland's hand as he lay in a hospital bed, wearing his Wythenshawe shirt. She wrote: 'I wouldn't usually do such a personal post on here but I just felt I needed to update everyone who has been messaging and asking how Stephen is doing. I feel bad that I haven't managed to reply to everyone yet and I didn't want anyone to think I was ignoring their kind concern. I have just been in hospital with Stephen since the incident happened Sunday morning and understandably just focused on getting him better.'
She added: 'Stephen incurred a "both-bone" break to his leg, his tibia and fibula were badly broken and therefore he needed surgery. He came out of surgery last night and thankfully all went well, he is now on the road to recovery. We just wanted to thank everyone for the overwhelming concern and support and all the lovely messages! To everyone who was there when it happened and knows how traumatic it was, THANK YOU for the immediate action that was taken and for the incredible support that day. He's got a tough road ahead but anyone that knows Stephen will know he'll be fighting fit as soon as physically possible.'
Wythenshawe Vets Phenomenon
Ireland has been credited as one of the driving forces behind the viral Wythenshawe Vets phenomenon. He teamed up with former colleagues and rivals to assemble a Sunday league dream team, with the likes of Cisse, Joleon Lescott, Emile Heskey, Oumar Niasse, Maynor Figueroa, Antonio Valencia, and Danny Drinkwater among the big names to have turned out for the Greater Manchester outfit.
Wythenshawe's over-35s have torn their competition apart, storming to the top of the Cheshire Veterans League where they remain unbeaten after their opening 10 matches, boasting a goal difference of 77 and sitting six points ahead of closest rivals Parklands (Widnes). The campaign is shaping up to be a trophy-filled one, having already lifted the Manchester FA Veterans Cup after thrashing East Manchester 9-2 in last month's final.
Last week, Ireland was confirmed as one of the headline names set to board the plane, flying the flag for Wythenshawe, at the winner-takes-all $1 million TST competition in North Carolina, which is due to kick off at the end of May.
