Muamba: Kenny was first to call
Fabrice Muamba's has revealed that Kenny Dalglish was the first manager to offer help on the day of his dramatic collapse in March.
Muamba was the Bolton Wanderers player who 'died' during a televised FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur, and his new autobiography reveals his recollection of events that day.
After receiving emergency treatment on the pitch from medical personnel - including a consultant cardiologist who was at the game as a fan - he was rushed to a coronary care unit at the London Chest Hospital. Muamba's heart stopped beating for 78 minutes. But amazingly he survived.
He made a remarkable recovery that has engrossed and enthralled both the footballing and wider world.
And in Fabrice Muamba: I'm Still Standing, Dalglish's offer to help is brilliantly described as Bolton manager Owen Coyle raced to the London Chest Hospital shortly after Muamba's ordeal had begun.
The book describes: "Owen gets out of the police car and presses the green button on his Nokia 9210.
"The phone is ancient but it's got so many numbers on it he doesn't want to replace it. He normally has it on silent but as the hospital looms into sight he turns up the volume in case someone wants to get in touch about Fabrice.
"A minute later it rings. 'Owen, it's Kenny,' says a voice at the other end. It's Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager. They have a game against Stoke City in one of the other FA Cup quarter-finals tomorrow.
"'I'll say this quickly: we're all thinking about Fabrice and the club. Can you please pass on our best. If you need anything at all let me know.'"
Muamba's respect for Liverpool Football Club shines through as he also speaks of his awe when facing Steven Gerrard.
"Steven Gerrard is another leader. He is so quick and such a great athlete, he is like a horse. When he takes off, oh my God... When he performs there is nobody who can touch him. He can ping the ball serious distances.
"And I mean really ping the ball. When we played at Anfield on Boxing Day, 2008, Gary Megson made me try and man-mark Gerrard. What? Who does that? I was fit enough for the job and tried to stay with him but he was just too good. When he took off I thought 'Oh, Jesus!' and I just had to do my best. Everywhere he went, I went. I was his shadow.
"And how did it go? Not very well, let's put it like that.
"He started in midfield but then went up front so I followed him there. That then meant we had five at the back which opened up space in midfield for Xabi Alonso to do what he wanted. Gerrard knew exactly what he was doing; he is a very smart, very clever player."
Fabrice Muamba I'm Still Standing is available at amazon.com. eBook available from Amazon Kindle, iBookstore and Google Play.