Manchester United legend Andy Cole has organ transplant a year after falling ill from kidney failure
Ex-striker was diagnosed in June 2015 and this procedure was necessary in his ongoing treatment... and will take a break from United ambassadorial duties
ANDY COLE has undergone a kidney transplant a year after falling seriously ill from a form of kidney failure.
The Manchester United legend was diagnosed in June 2015 and this procedure was necessary in his ongoing treatment for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.
As a result, the former England forward, who also played for the likes of Newcastle and Blackburn, will take a step back from his United ambassadorial duties.
A Manchester United statement said: "Manchester United Ambassador Andrew Cole has undergone a kidney transplant operation at Manchester Royal Infirmary as part of his treatment for a condition called Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.
"During his recuperation, Andrew will be taking a break from his role as Manchester United Ambassador.
"Andrew and his family would like to thank the club and fans for their support. They also request that he can continue with his treatment in private, and ask that their privacy is respected."
Cole is the third-highest scorer in Premier League history with 187 goals to his name, only behind Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer.
The 45-year-old spent six years at United between 1995 and 2001, scoring 121 goals in 275 games, winning every major trophy under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Cole, 45, took to Instagram to show off his incredible recovery from the illness last year after pulling out of a charity game in November 2015 when it was first revealed he was poorly.
On the illness, Cole said: “In June of this year I suffered kidney failure, caused as a result of contracting an airborne virus and I have been under medical care ever since.
“I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a condition called Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.”
The illness left Cole looking bloated due to water retention, with 15-cap England forward revealing in February this year he was subjected to vile taunts about his weight.
On his sickness, Cole said: “I wouldn’t tell a soul.
“You’re getting all these comments ‘Andy Cole, he’s put on all this weight’, ‘who ate all the pies?’ and all that kind of stuff.
“The weight you’ve put on through the water retention, that wreaks havoc with your head because you’re saying to yourself ‘I don’t want to look in the mirror any more’ because you’re not the same.
“You don’t feel the same, you don’t feel as confident about yourself as you used to, but then it’s out of your hands.”