Former Tottenham Hotspur star and manager Chris Hughton has spoken publicly for the first time about his battle with prostate cancer. The 67-year-old was diagnosed last year and underwent surgery to remove his prostate, and is now cancer-free.
Hughton, who made 398 appearances for Tottenham and later managed Newcastle United, Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Nottingham Forest, said the diagnosis did not frighten him. “The news certainly didn’t scare me. I know everyone is different, but my first impression was: ‘I’ll be fine.’ I just thought: ‘Ok, we’ll have to do what we have to do,’” he said.
Routine health checks through the League Managers Association helped detect the cancer early. Hughton was placed in a high-risk category as a black male over 50 with a family history of the disease. He underwent blood tests to confirm the diagnosis before opting for surgery.
“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. I’m one year post operation and I feel good. It’s all gone very well. I’ve got a lot of energy,” Hughton added.
Hughton, who also managed the Ghana national team until January 2024, is now keen to raise awareness about prostate cancer, emphasising the importance of early detection. He remains active and says he is in a good place both physically and mentally.
