Man United legend shares health battle update as emotional message sent

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has previously undergone a kidney transplant after falling ill in 2015

Manchester United legend Andy Cole has shared an emotional message on social media about his health.

The former Reds and England striker was part of United's famous 1999 treble-winning campaign and played a huge role in their historic season. Cole scored 24 goals across all competitions in 98/99 as part of a formidable strike force with Dwight Yorke, who netted 29 times.

In total, the forward scored 121 goals in 275 appearances for the Reds before leaving to join Blackburn Rovers in 2002. Cole retired from the professional game in November 2008 after a stint at Nottingham Forest and has gone on to work as a coach and pundit.

The 53-year-old has also endured health problems since hanging up his boots, and in 2015, he suffered kidney failure. In 2017, he underwent a kidney transplant.

And Cole has shared an update on Wednesday about his health to his Instagram followers, with several emotional posts.

"Process.. the journey continues," he said in the first post alongside a picture of the hospital ward he attended. "Tired body in pain... we continue to understand kidney disease is draining at times... but we keep smiling as it's part of the process."

In the second post, he shared a picture of his medication and said: " Keep me going for the next 3 months quitting never an option with the good days we work with the bad days."

Back in 2018, Cole shared the personal story of how he owes his sister’s son a ‘lifelong debt’ after a terrifying brush with death. The former footballer had struggled with illness for two years before his nephew, Alexander Palmer, was found to be the perfect match for a transplant in 2017.

During the emotional interview, Andy said: “My family all rallied round to offer to be donors, my sisters and nephews, and that meant I had a donor quickly.

“Alexander said to me: ‘Uncle I will do it. I cannot see you in this pain any more.’ I knew it is not going to be easy. He was 27 at the time, young, fit, the perfect match. But it was still a dilemma. I was thinking ‘what if it does not work, I have put him through all this pain, and he has risked all this for me?’

“Thankfully, it was a very good match, and he made a full recovery. But I know that others in need are not so lucky, and wait years for a donor.”