A former footballer believes he would not be alive now if he had chosen a different career path in his life.
The former player who won six major honours during his career has opened up about the harrowing admission upon reflecting on his life in a recent interview.
He learned of his cancer after a routine drugs test following a match.
The player in question? Former Bolton, Celtic and Everton defender Alan Stubbs.
Stubbs, 53, who has battled testicular cancer twice – aged 28 and 29 – has detailed how learned of his life-changing situation.
The centre back’s initial diagnosis came off the back of one of his happiest days in his career after helping Celtic beat Dundee United 3-0 to win the 1999 Scottish League Cup final.
Alan Stubbs claims he would be dead if he was not a footballer due to their stringent tests
Stubbs (top row, fourth right) learned of his cancer diagnosis after helping Celtic win the Scottish Cup final when he took a post-match drugs test
Speaking on the Undr The Cosh podcast, Stubbs says being a footballer saved his life
The win at Ibrox saw Stubbs collect his first piece of his silverware in his career, but his life was soon to remarkable turn following his post-match drugs test.
Speaking on Undr the Cosh podcast, Stubbs – who played 139 times for the Scottish giants – said of that drugs test: I produced a hormone that is usally found in pregnant women. When it’s found in men it’s usually linked to cancer.
‘I dodged two bullets (cancer). If I wasn’t a footballer I’d be dead. As footballers we always get the best advice or treatment and are always getting tested.
‘That is why I always say I was so lucky because if I wasn’t a footballer I wouldn’t have been chosen for a random drug test. Even after that I still wouldn’t be pushed to the front of queues to see specialists.
‘I got diagnosed on Friday and got treatment on Monday when people nowadays have to wait six months.
‘For people to turn around and say “how unlucky was I” couldn’t be any further from the truth. As I say if I was not a footballer, I would probably be dead – it’s as simple as that.’
After the 1999 Scottish League Cup final, he underwent surgery and chemotherapy and made a full recovery, only to suffer a relapse in November 2000 which required further treatment.
Following a second operation in January 2001, the former Bolton defender was given the all-clear and returned to the Celtic first-team with a goal in a 5-2 win at Hibernian in May 2001.
Stubbs’ six honours all came with Celtic where he won two league titles, one Scottish Cup and three Scottish League Cups.
