LONDON, England, November 2 – Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who was admitted to hospital late on Tuesday for tests, requires minor heart surgery, the Press Association reported on Wednesday.
The north London club has confirmed their 64-year-old coach was set to undergo a “medical procedure” that would rule him out of the Europa League trip to Rubin Kazan.
Redknapp will have an operation on a minor blockage in one of his arteries.
Assistant manager Kevin Bond and first team coach Joe Jordan will take charge for Thursday’s match in Russia with the Spurs boss appearing confident he would be back in the dug out for Sunday’s Premier League game at Fulham.
He told Wednesday’s Sun tabloid: “I’m hoping I can be back at work again in a couple of days.”
The former Portsmouth manager, who has been in charge of Tottenham for three years, admitted 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.”
On the stresses of management he added: “After a game I cannot sleep, there is too much going on in my head as I go over moves, think about game plans, think about which player has had a good or bad game – and it’s worse if you lose.”
Meanwhile, Antonio Cassano suffered a cerebral problem related to an ischaemic stroke, his club AC Milan said on Wednesday.
He is due to undergo an operation to close a small hole in his heart and is expected to be out for several months.
“Having consulted with the Policlinico (hospital) in Milan, AC Milan can confirm that Antonio Cassano suffered from a cerebral problem related to an ischaemic stroke,” said the Milan statement.
“The instrumental and neurological examinations needed 72 hours to be developed and demonstrated a small problem in the cerebral area which has not caused lasting damage.
“The cause has been identified as a hole between the (left and right) atriums (in the heart) which could only be detected by sophisticated equipment.
“Therapy should result in a rapid recovery and improvement in his clinical conidition, which is good.
“The footballer will undergo in the coming days a small heart operation (to close the hole) and the recovery period before returning to sporting activity will be several months.”
Cassano’s condition is not a particularly rare one which usually causes little to no affects in the sufferer.
It is essentially an anomaly of the heart in which a small hole develops between the left and right atriums allowing blood to escape between the two, causing turbulence that can result in blood clotting.
Cassano was taken ill on Milan’s return from Rome in the early hours of Sunday morning, following a 3-2 win over Roma, and the 29-year-old was admitted to the Policlino hospital in Milan.
He was suffering from difficulties in his speech and movement.
In hospital Cassano was transferred to the neurological department where he was to undergo tests on his heart and brain.
Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani moved to quell fears this could mean an end to the 29-year-old’s playing career.
“Antonio’s in good condition, he’s well. I’m not a doctor but the statement says everything,” said Galliani.
“This problem will be resolved through surgery and then in several months it will be the Italian Football Federation who give him the green light to start playing again.
“I was very, very worried but there’s no risk to his career. The doctors say he needs several months, not so many to recover but so that he can follow the process.
“I don’t want to make any predictions but surely between four to six months he should have his licence to play.
“Antonio’s joking as per usual, he’s missing football, he told me he’s disappointed because he was doing well and I told him to stay calm because his position (with Milan) is secure.”
