Eusebio suffered stroke in Poland

Published on 30/06/2012 00:47

FORMER Portugal and Benfica great Eusebio suffered a stroke during his stay in Poland to watch Euro 2012 and will remain in a Lisbon hospital for an undetermined period of time, the hospital said last night.

Eusebio, 70, was admitted to Lisbon’s Luz hospital after arriving on a medical flight on Wednesday. “The tests conclude that on 24 of June he had a cerebrovascular accident,” Luz hospital clinical director Jose Roquette said in a statement.

Eusebio is in a stable condition and out of intensive care. “Eusebio is conscious and collaborates in all the medical care being done. His family is with him and his friends have been visiting,” Roquette said. “He will stay in hospital for an undetermined period of time.”

Eusebio, Portugal’s football ambassador, has been admitted to hospital four times since December. He has been suffering from hypertension and his doctors have said he must have regular examinations. Eusebio travelled with the national team to Poland and watched the quarter-final win over the Czech Republic.

Nicknamed the Black Panther, Eusebio grabbed international headlines during the 1966 World Cup in England when Portugal finished third. He also helped his Portuguese club side Benfica reach four European Cup finals in the 1960s.