Liverpool legend Alan Hansen will be involved in the ceremony to mark their Premier League title win following the final match of the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday
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16:40, 22 May 2025
Broadcaster and former footballer Alan Hansen is awarded an MBE for services to association football and to Broadcasting at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, UK on Tuesday 18 March, 2025., Credit:Justin Ng / Avalon
Alan Hansen was awarded an MBE in March(Image: Justin Ng / Avalon)
Liverpool have made a classy gesture by choosing to put club legend Alan Hansen front and centre of their Premier League title celebrations on Sunday. Hansen will make an emotional return to Anfield for Liverpool’s final game of the season against Crystal Palace, when they will lift the trophy.
The 69-year-old will present the Premier League trophy to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk after the 4pm kick-off at Anfield. It is a fitting choice from the club after Hansen recovered from serious illness last year.
The Scot, who made 620 appearances for the club and won eight league titles, was admitted to hospital in June due to ill health. Well wishes poured in from the world of football for the former centre-back, who was eventually able to return home and has been on the mend since.
He looked in great health when he attended a ceremony at Windsor Castle in March to collect an MBE from Prince William. The former Liverpool captain was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to football and broadcasting.
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He spent 14 years at Liverpool, winning three European Cups, eight league titles, two FA Cups and three League Cups. After retiring Hansen became a renowned pundit and was a regular fixture on Match of the Day alongside his former Liverpool team-mate Mark Lawrenson and presenter Gary Lineker.
Hansen will present the trophy to Van Dijk, with the party also including Mark and Jo McVeigh of the Owen McVeigh Foundation. The charity was established in 2015 after the couple lost their son Owen to leukemia and they work with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to help families in similar positions.
Van Dijk recently signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool and will no doubt relish the chance to speak to Hansen, who skippered the side for four years. The Dutchman has already explained the importance of the title, which has come in the first year of Arne Slot’s reign as manager.
Alan Hansen
Alan Hansen was ill in the summer of 2024(Image: Getty)
“I speak about everyone who is connected to Liverpool can celebrate and enjoy because that is what you should do as well,” he said after they beat Spurs to clinch the title. “Obviously I think, in my opinion, it is the hardest league in the world to win so when it is a glorious day in terms of the atmosphere, the weather and a good opponent.
“It was incredible to be a part of and I think the manager touched on it already on the pitch that we have now two titles in five years, so that is a big achievement in my opinion.
“Around that time (of Jurgen Klopp's leaving announcement) we were still fighting for the title as well and I had a lot of confidence in my team.”
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