Sir Kenny Dalglish confirms cancer diagnosis as son Paul leads tributes to Liverpool icon

Sir Kenny Dalglish, 75, confirmed on Tuesday that he is currently receiving treatment for cancer, after inadvertently revealing his condition through a social media post earlier in the day.

In a written statement, the Liverpool legend said: “As my inadvertent social media post has indicated, I am currently undergoing treatment for cancer. Unlike my mobile phone use, the treatment is going well. Ideally, this would have remained private because that’s the way it should be, but my useless technology skills have forced my hand.”

Dalglish asked for the privacy of himself and his family to be respected, and used the statement to thank his medical team. “As ever, thank you to the wonderful medical staff who have shown incredible care and discretion, not just for me but for many, many others. They are a credit to themselves,” he added.

His son Paul was among the first to respond publicly, sharing his father’s statement alongside a message of his own. “My Dad is my hero, my best mate, and the strongest man I know,” Paul wrote. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from him, it’s how to face challenges with courage, humour, and dignity. The treatment is going well and he’ll handle this the same way he’s handled everything else in life. Love you, Dad.”

Liverpool Football Club issued a statement expressing their full support. “The support, best wishes and love of everyone at Liverpool FC are, and will be, with Sir Kenny and his family. The club would also like to underscore his request for privacy moving forward.”

Widely regarded as Liverpool’s greatest ever player, Dalglish won eight league titles and three European Cups across his time as a player and manager at Anfield between 1979 and 1990. He also led Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995.

Tributes and messages of support arrived quickly from across the football world. Steven Gerrard wrote: “Sending our love Sir Kenny.” Alan Shearer, who won that Blackburn title under Dalglish, posted: “Everyone is with you Kenny.” Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler wrote: “Sending you lots of love Sir king,” while Jamie Carragher added: “Sending all our love Kenny.”

Current Liverpool players Jordan Henderson, Andy Robertson and Harvey Elliott all responded to Dalglish’s Instagram post, and Newcastle United — another of his former clubs — also issued a statement extending “love and best wishes to Sir Kenny Dalglish and his family.”