Remembering Phil O'Donnell

[CorkerSWFC]

TODAY, Thursday, December 29, marks the fourth anniversary of Phil O'Donnell´s tragic and untimely death at the age of just 35.

 

The midfielder was captaining Motherwell during their match with Dundee United at Fir Park in 2007 when he collapsed on the pitch and died. His death sparked a huge outpouring of grief among the whole of Scottish football.

 

At the end of the 2007/08 season, over 60,000 supporters turned out at Celtic Park for a tribute match between the Celtic team that 'stopped-the-10' and the Motherwell side which lifted the Scottish Cup in 1991.

 

Phil, of course, made a significant contribution to those successes at both clubs.

 

He began his playing career with Motherwell, and at the age of just 19, he helped the club win the Scottish Cup in 1991, scoring in a thrilling 4-3 victory over Dundee United in the final at Hampden.

 

In September 1994, Tommy Burns signed Phil for Celtic, and at the time he was the club's record signing. And he got off to a great start with the Hoops, scoring both goals in the 2-1 victory over Partick Thistle at Firhill on September 10.

 

He went on to lift the Scottish Cup with Celtic at the end of that season as Tommy Burns' side beat Airdrie 1-0 in the final. And he was also an important part of the squad when Celtic 'stopped the 10' in 1998, winning their first league title in a decade.

 

During five years at Celtic between 1994-99, Phil made a total of 121 games for Celtic, scoring 20 goals.

 

From Celtic, he moved south to Sheffield Wednesday, remaining there until 2003. After returning to Scotland, he rejoined Motherwell in 2004, and was an important part of the team over the next three years as captain of the club.

 

His sad and untimely death at the age of just 35 robbed football of a fine player and a great role model.

 

Much more importantly, it robbed a family of a loving husband and father, and our thoughts and prayers remain, as always, with his wife Eileen and their four children.

 

RIP FELLA NEVER FORGOTTON !!!