Ex Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton has opened up on his battle with prostate cancer over the past year.
The 67-year-old has undergone successful surgery to remove the disease and is now cancer free. Hughton is sharing his story in order to spread cancer awareness, having managed to nip the health problem in the bud early himself.
Hughton said: “The news certainly didn’t scare me. I know everyone is different, but my first impression was: ‘I’ll be fine.’
“I didn’t instantly think ‘this is probably just going to kill me’. I just thought: ‘Ok, we’ll have to do what we have to do’.”
Chris Hughton looks to spread cancer awareness
Hughton spotted the early signs of cancer through routine health checks carried out via the League Managers Association. The former manager had been put in a ‘high risk’ category due to being a black male over the age of 50 with a history of illness in the family.
The former Magpies boss underwent blood tests to get an official diagnosis before undergoing treatment. He said: “I had very good advice and all the treatment options were given to me, and I decided to have my prostate removed. The recovery has gone really well. I’m one year post operation and I feel good. It’s all gone very well. I’ve got a lot of energy.
“Keeping active and busy is part of how I am anyway, but it’s also about rehabilitation and keeping your mind active as well. I’m very comfortable with my prognosis and my post operation feelings. I’m in a really good place.”
Ex Newcastle United manager reflects on time at St James’ Park
Hughton, who made 53 appearances for the Republic of Ireland during his playing career, initially joined Newcastle United as a first team coach in 2008. Following relegation, he took on the caretaker role and led the side back to the Premier League, eventually being appointed on a permanent basis.
The manager was eventually dismissed by Mike Ashley in December 2010 and went on to work at Birmingham City, Norwich City, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and with the Ghana national side. He left that last post in 2024.
Speaking about his time on Tyneside, Hughton has said: “If you walked into my house you wouldn’t know I was a football manager! I’m not one that puts up lots of pictures. But I have got albums and mementos of my time at Newcastle United … pictures and signed shirts.
“The photographs of the promotion celebrations and pictures on the pitch – I have them all. I don’t have them on view but I do go through them, but I don’t need to because it’s all etched into my head.”
In other news, Why Nick Woltemade has not been playing for Newcastle United – Eddie Howe explains.
