Former Chelsea winger Paul Canoville is critically ill in hospital after emergency surgery.
The 58-year-old was the club's first black player when he signed in 1981 and scored 15 goals in 103 games before retiring with a knee injury aged 25.
The Blues have wished him a rapid recovery, saying he "holds a major place in Chelsea history".
A statement from the Paul Canoville Foundation asked people to keep him in their thoughts.
https://twitter.com/_PCFoundation/status/1356887328845926400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1356887328845926400%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2F55916730"We are sad to advise that our founder Paul Canoville is critically ill in hospital after complications set in after emergency surgery," it said.
