Former Premier League manager Chris Hughton has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April last year, but is now cancer-free after successful surgery. The 67-year-old, who managed Newcastle, Brighton, and other clubs, underwent surgery to remove his prostate in May. His cancer was detected early, and the operation has been a success, with Hughton making a strong recovery.
Early Detection and Treatment
Hughton first noticed warning signs during a routine annual health check provided by the League Managers Association while he was Brighton manager. He fell into a high-risk category: over 50, with a family history of the disease, and black. One in four black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had regular blood tests to monitor his PSA levels every six months and has long supported Prostate Cancer UK.
Last year, his PSA levels spiked, and a subsequent scan detected cancer. Hughton said: "I had very good advice and all the treatment options were given to me, and I decided to have my prostate removed. The recovery has gone really well."
Recovery and Awareness
Hughton, who won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup with Tottenham and earned 53 caps for the Republic of Ireland, is now one year post-operation. "I feel good. It's all gone very well. I've got a lot of energy. Keeping active and busy is part of how I am anyway, but it's also about rehabilitation and keeping your mind active as well," he said. "I'm very comfortable with my prognosis and my post-operation feelings. I'm in a really good place."
Hughton, whose most recent job as manager of Ghana ended in 2024, wants to use his experience to raise awareness. "The news certainly didn't scare me," he said. "I know everyone is different, but my first impression was 'I'll be fine'. I didn't instantly think 'this is probably just going to kill me.' I just thought, 'OK, we'll have to do what we have to do.'"
Prostate Cancer UK encourages men to know their risk in 30 seconds at prostatecanceruk.org/riskcheck.
