Former Nottingham Forest and England defender Stuart Pearce is recuperating in a Canadian hospital following a medical emergency while travelling from the United States.
Pearce was in the US to watch Wigan vs. Warrington in the Super League on Saturday.
Following treatment, the decision was made to make an emergency landing, diverting the Virgin Atlantic flight from Las Vegas to Heathrow to St. John’s in Canada, after the 62-year-old felt ill on his way home.
The Forest icon is currently in a good mood, according to football analyst Sam Matterface, who works with Pearce for the radio channel talkSPORT.
Matterface, speaking from the City Ground ahead of Saturday’s match between Forest and Manchester City, another of Pearce’s former teams, stated, “I spoke to him yesterday; he’s in great spirits.
“He is in the appropriate place—the hospital—but he isn’t completely recovered, that much is certain. They are addressing it. He told me, “I had to cancel because I had so much.”
“I can’t go right now since Mumford and Sons are playing on Wednesday night, but there are some amazing games. That did not sit well with him. He is feeling upbeat.”
During Saturday’s Premier League match between Forest and Manchester City, a message was shown on the City Ground’s large screen.
It recognised Pearce’s old shirt number three and read ‘Get Well Soon, Stuart’ in the third minute.
During his 12-year tenure, Pearce played for Coventry, Newcastle, West Ham, and Manchester City, whom he eventually managed. He also made 401 appearances for Forest.
Along with playing in the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96 semi-finals, where he missed a penalty in the team’s shootout loss to West Germany, he also collected 78 caps for England.
Pearce’s celebration of his winning penalty kick against the Spanish became one of the tournament’s iconic pictures.
He scored in the quarterfinal shootout victory against Spain and the semi-final loss to Germany at Euro 96.
He managed the England Under-21 squad for six years and briefly served as the senior team’s interim manager.
At the London 2012 Olympics, he also served as coach of the Great Britain men’s team.
Pearce resigned his position as a member of David Moyes’ coaching team at West Ham in 2022, marking his final football position.
Regarding the incident, a Virgin spokesperson said: “Due to an unwell customer on board, the VS156 on 2 March flying from Las Vegas to London Heathrow diverted to St. John’s International Airport, Canada, and was met by the medical services.”
