Pay your tributes to Phil O'Donnell

The football world is in mourning today for Phil O’Donnell, the Motherwell midfielder, who collapsed during their match against Dundee United at Fir Park yesterday.

The former Celtic and Scotland player fell to the ground after 77 minutes of the game, just as he was about to be substituted, and after receiving medical treatment on the pitch, was taken to a nearby hospital in Wishaw where he was pronounced dead at 5.18pm.

O’Donnell was widely regarded as one of Scottish football’s up-and-coming young talents when he originally forced his way into the Motherwell first team in the early 1990s. He won his lone cap for Scotland – it would surely have been many more but for injury - in 1994 and went on to play with Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday before returning to his first club where his career had once more began to blossom.

Despite a catalogue of injuries, O’Donnell still won the Scottish Premier League title and appeared in the Scottish Cup final four times, scoring the winner in a 4-3 victory over Dundee United in May 1991. More importantly, he was a model professional and his passing will be deeply felt by those at Fir Park, across his homeland and way beyond.

O’Donnell was only 35. He leaves a wife, Eileen, and four young children. If you would like to pay your own tribute - footballing or otherwise - to the man, please complete the comment form below.

Comments

[jamie]

Gone but never forgotten
Rest in peace Phil

[roddy]

Very Sad. Such a nice guy. Around the same age as myself, so being a football fan through all these years, i have become used to seeing him play wherever that happens to have been. I am neither a Celtic, Motherwell or Sheffield Wednesday fan but his death has hit me and i feel so sorry for everyone connected. RIP Phil.

[peter monaghan]

Such a shame a young man with a young family life can be so cruel sometimes Our thoughts are with the people he left behind

[ann]

Oh my god what a shock. I couldn't believe it when I heard the news, Another great person who's life was tragically cut short for no reason, WHY !!!My thoughts are with Phil's wife and their 4 young children and to Phil's family, friends and team mates. This is such a tragic thing to happen rest in peace Phil and say hello to Super Cooper when you see him

[Andy - Sunderland]

Celtic fans everywhere will today understand the rearranged fixture & our thoughts are with the O'Donnell family.

[Paul]

YNWA Phil.
I can't imagine how Eileen, the kids and the rest of the family are at this stage but if it helps in any small way you are in my prayers. As a Celtic fan my abiding memory is however of your goal in the final for the Steelmen and of one of your goals at Ibrox in a SC tie. I'd also like to pay tribute to Walter Smith and Mr McMillan (Rangers Supporter Representative) for their entirely apt comments. Well done.

[Andy Nelson]

Great man, great player (potentially one of the best of your generation but for injury), may you rest in peace.

Prayers and best wishes to family, friends and all of MFC

[Louise]

RIP
A great man gone too early. Thoughts with his family, friends and colleagues who shouldn't have to start 2008 without him.YNWA.

[callum cahill]

its a great tragadey for phil to have passed away he signed for celtic the year i was born 1994 so i was very young at the time RIP PHIL!

[Stirling]

A tragedy... A respectful Gentle man taken from his family at such a young age in the twilight years of his great career my prayers and condolences go out to all who are hurting at this time.

[Nick]

Me - I'm a dandy but this is a tradgedy across teams and colours. You were a player Phil, of the highest class - I will remember you fondly - "especially when I think of the 5-1 game". When your wife and kids remember you it will be as a father and a husband, but me i didn't know you, I always thought you were a gentleman though. - My deepest sympathy to your family and friends

[darren cossar]

im a rangers fan but i always thought u were a great player and professional.RIP PHIL

[Fir Parker]

Thanks for the great memories Phil

[Craig Baxter]

Inspirational to the younger generation,
will be sorely missed
R.I.P Phil
From everyone at New Bayview

[James Mac Phee]

As a great fan of the SPL and a rangers man to heart i was deeply saddened by the death oh phil my thoughts and paryers are with his family and the motherwell team xx
R.I.P BIG MAN U DID MOTHERWELL PROUD UR AM THERE WAE MY BIG IDOL BIG COOP XXX

[Stephen McCumesty]

As a Celtic fan, I was really excited when he signed for Celtic and equally dissappointed when he did not make the impact due to his injuries. He would still have been playing for the Hoops today had he stayed fit. A great player. My toughts are with his young family. God Bless

[Tom]

Rest in Peace Phil.

Deepest sympathies to your family and friends.

Words can't say enough.

[Rob, Dublin]

I'll admit I'm no fan of the SPL, and I was not well acquainted with Phil O'Donnell before hearing this sad sad news on Saturday.

It's clearly a loss for the game, as he was well-loved across Britain, and obviously a huge loss for his family.

I pray that they'll find consolation and peace soon. Rest In Peace Phil.

[Mark Fraser]

Thank you for the memories. Rest in peace Phil, See you in Paradise. You'll Never Walk Alone.

[Steven Livingstone]

Excellent player. I always remember being at Celtic park and he would be one of the talents we knew could change a game. Check YouTube for the goal he scored ironically against Motherwell - a cracker.

He had a LOT of injuries but the good thing about highlights is that we can pull them together and show just how good a player he was.

I hope a tribute TV program does just that.

To Phil and his family - YNWA.

[tony brady cumbernauld]

When he shall die, cut him out into little stars and he shall make the face of heaven so fine that everyone will be in love with the night and pay no worship to the garish sun. god bless phil.

[US fan]

God Bless Phil and his family. My deepest sympathy to all who knew him.

[Jim Batty]

Condolences & prayers go out to family & friends from myself & my family . youll never walk alone - HAIL HAIL Phil thanks for the memories we wont forget you .

[Ewan McIntyre]

I am a rangers fan and remember giving Phil stick during old firm games, purely because he was a good player playing well. I was in tears when i heard what had happened to him, a model pro and thoroughly decent man.
My thoughts and prayers are with his young family, god bless.

[Mark Boyce]

R I P . Phil .
Wonderful player , wonderful person .
Scottish football will miss you
Thoughts to Phil's family
Hail hail to you in heaven

[Mark McAuley]

My wife & myself are in pieces with the news of Phil O;Donnell.
We remember when he signed for Celtic we were ecstatic as he was the hottest young player at that time, a real star in the making.
Phill gave us, and countless others great memories in the hoops & only troublesome injuries stopped Phill being a legend.
You will live on in our hearts forever.
Go with god Phil.
Rest in peace.

[Stephen - Airdrie]

Having lost my sister to breast cancer not so long ago, I can only begin to imagine the pain and sense of loss that Phil's young family, parents, siblings and friends must be feeling.

I truly hope you all find the strength to come to terms with your tragic loss and pray that you feel some sense of support from the many people around the world who wish you well in this time of grief.

[Claire (Rangers Fan)]

A sickening and devastating loss to Scottish football. The outpouring of public grief simply shows what an important and special player you truly were. My thoughts are with the O'Donnell family, and their extended family at Fir Park.

Your presence we miss
Your memory we treasure,
Loving you always
Forgetting you never.

[Adeolu Alagbe]

This is another heartbreak cos although people die everyday, we, the followers tend to feel it cos we are entertained by footballers. my heart goes out to his family and everyone. What a year, .....Puerta and now him. painful it is

[Liam Rodgers]

R.I.P. Phil

Heartfelt condolences to the O'Donnell family.

Hail Hail

[JS]

A great man and a great player. I can't believe he is gone. He deserves to have a stand named after him at Fir Park just as Davie Cooper had. Phil was a Motherwell legend.

My prayers are with his family, friends and team mates.

[Numpty, Dublin]

Thanks for the memories, Phil. I remember your first game in claret and amber-- at left back against St Mirren, Kenny McDowell ran you ragged! Later that year you were to score your first goal for us in *that* cup final. Was delighted when you came back to us in 2004, and devastated that you've left us in 2007.

[Laura]

Not just an amazing player and captain but an amazing husband, father and human being who did not deserve to lose his life so soon. He will be badly missed and never forgotten. May he rest in peace and guide Motherwell throughout their future games, giving them the courage he had.
Phil - you will always be remembered as a Motherwell legend, who has, not only helped Motherwell Football Club, but also the young and new players within the club. RIP Uncle Phil!

[celtic-mick (nottingham)]

When you walk through a storm
hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone,
You’ll never, ever walk alone.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone,
You’ll never, ever walk alone.
rest in peace phil, deepest sympathy to all his family and all that knew him.
hail hail

[J]

He was a great footballer and a great person. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, team mates who have lost a true friend. RIP Phil

[ashley ball]

I am an Owls fan, and remember a great goal he scored against watford in a league cup quarter final. He never really proved himself at the Owls, but to hear of all the tributues goes some way to finding more about one of Wednesday's forgotten men.

[Colin Paterson]

Totally gutted to hear about Phil. I find myself in tears when I think about it, I am a Celtic fan who had the pleasure of watching him many times. I met him on a couple of occasions also and - well everyone knows what a gentleman he was.

Although Phil was a Celtic man I know he had as much - if not latterly more love for Motherwell, he will be a great loss to them and all Scottish football. His family will be in my prayers for many nights to come. God bless Phil

[Aliceon Higginbottom]

Our thoughts and prayers are with Phil's wife and children and may all the support and encouragement give them the strength to get through this traumatic time. Always in our thoughts, rest in peace Phil, you will never be forgotten.

[Ross Allan]

A great player, a great man. An inspiration to anyone who ever saw him play. RIP Phil.

[Fraser Clyde-]

R.I.P phil