Gary Mabbutt, for Tottenham in August 1990 (Getty).
We’ll be talking this Saturday about a Tottenham legend with a strange story. That’s Gary Mabbutt.
Who’s that?: England defender from the 80s and 90s.
Why are you remembered?: Well, to be an absolute Tottenham legend, as he is the second player with the most caps in the club’s history spanning over 140 years.
What happened to him?: He retired at Spurs in 1998. He is currently an ambassador for the club.
Do you know…?: At the age of 17, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a condition that marked his career.
– Your father, Ray Mabbutt, was a professional footballer who spent most of his career with Bristol Rovers.
– Today he is vice president and co-spokesperson for Diabetes UK, the main association of diabetics in the UK.
Mabbutt, pictured after his resignation (WIKIPEDIA)
– She has starred in commercials to teach diabetic children to inject insulin.
– He is currently unable to run or kick a ball due to peripheral arterial disease, a result of his diabetes.
– Diabetes also causes loss of feeling in his feet, which led to a horrific incident five years ago: he was in South Africa visiting a young girl while living in Kruger National Park, while he was sleeping, a rat snuck into his room and devoured a toe , down to the bone. He had to be rushed to England, where he underwent surgery.
– He was UEFA champion with Tottenham in 1984. He played the first leg as a substitute and the second leg, in London, as a starter.
– He captained Tottenham for 11 years, from 1987 until his retirement in 1998.
– In 1987 he was voted player of the year at the Spurs. He is the first person to receive this award.
– He is 1.78 meters tall.
Biography, palmares, statistics: Gary Vincent Mabbutt was born on August 23, 1961 in Bristol, England. Between 1979 and 1982 he played for Bristo Rovers, and from 1982 until his retirement in 1998, for Tottenham. He has the FA Cup, Charity Shield and UEFA Cup to his credit. With England he played 16 matches and scored one goal.
Until tomorrow.
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