Tottenham legend Gary Mabbutt refuses to be bowed by diabetes or heart surgery: 'Given the choice of injecting yourself or dying, it's easy'

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When Gary Mabbutt had life-saving heart surgery this summer, his former Tottenham team-mate Gary Lineker was quick out of the blocks. 'When they operate, it will be the biggest heart they've ever seen,' tweeted Lineker. 'Thinking of you, skipper.'

Last week, less than three months after an emergency seven-hour bypass operation, Mabbutt was cleared to return to work as an ambassador for Tottenham. Last Friday he drove for five hours from London to Manchester to a supporters' meeting. Afterwards, he drove straight back.

Already, it seems, his latest health scare has been filed under 'life experience', placed alongside a medical history that features a four-decade battle with type-1 diabetes and an emergency operation in 2013 to save his left leg from being amputated.

Gary Mabbutt speaks three months after having life-saving heart surgery this summer

Last week, Mabbutt was cleared to return to work as an ambassador for Tottenham

'I have a lot of catching up to do,' smiled Mabbutt, 56, as he settled into a chair in a Manchester hotel. 'Health issues aren't new to me. I have been a diabetic for almost 40 years. I started off on two injections a day and now it's seven. And 10 blood tests a day.

'The heart problem was a shock, yes. I thought heart bypasses were for older people and not a teenager like me! But it's been dealt with now. Everyone has problems and it's how you deal with them that makes or breaks you.'

Mabbutt, who played for Tottenham for 16 years, talks matter-of-factly about his two big surgeries. Having defied three specialists who told him, at the age of 17, that a diabetes diagnosis would end his career, perhaps we should not be surprised.

'I'd been suffering from indigestion symptoms and breathlessness and it turned out my main artery was blocked,' he said. 'So I had a full bypass and was in critical care for two nights. They couldn't take an artery from my legs as they normally do so they took it from my chest and reattached it.

'It was about seven hours, and the great relief is that I could have been in South Africa in the middle of nowhere. We were about to go to a game park when it happened.'

As an ambassador for Diabetes UK, Mabbutt is aware of the complications of his condition.

The Tottenham icon sits down to speak with Sportsmail's Ian Ladyman at a Manchester hotel

Mabbutt, pictured (right) with Nick Barmby, made 611 appearances for the north London club 

He spent his playing career massaging his numb feet, dealing with circulation issues and injecting himself with insulin in the dressing room and — before extra time in the 1987 FA Cup final — even taking a blood test on the field.

So when he woke up in the night with a cold, painful left leg in 2013 he suspected trouble. 'They told me I needed surgery or I could lose it,' he said. 'I remember lying on the table and there were 15 people running around. I thought, "I can't do anything. Just trust them".

'I had no idea when I woke up whether I would have my leg or not. Beforehand I said to the surgeon, "Just have a good day at the office today, doc". He just smiled. But he did, he saved the leg.'

Mabbutt needed 112 staples to heal a wound that ran from thigh to ankle. He can no longer run or let his feet get particularly wet or cold but his two dogs — Jack and new retriever puppy Cody — are still walked morning and night.

'I don't try to be heroic,' he said. 'I listen to the docs. They say walking is good so I walk. I've been with my same professor for 15 years and I'm lucky I have some exceptional people behind me. They have had life-changing events in their hands and I am still here.'

The 56-year-old has a medical history that features a four-decade battle with type-1 diabetes

When Mabbutt had life-saving heart surgery, Gary Lineker was quick out of the blocks

Mabbutt agreed to this interview to shine a light on the constant work to tackle diabetes and the ongoing need for diagnosis. He also wants young sportsmen and women to know that, although each case is different, it does not necessarily have to end their competitive careers.

The former Spurs captain was diagnosed when he was playing for Bristol Rovers in Division Two.

'I played the worst game of my career at Leicester,' he recalled. 'I couldn't keep up. I was constantly thirsty and when I wasn't asleep I wanted to be asleep.

'I was diagnosed and told I couldn't continue. Three specialists said it was over, no chance. But then the fourth said that nobody had done it from a young age so maybe we could give it a try. They said I had nothing to lose.'

Mabbutt played more than 600 times for Spurs and 16 times for England, winning the UEFA Cup in 1984 and the FA Cup in 1991. 'Youngsters say to me they wish they weren't diabetic and I say, "Yes, me too",' he said.

'Sometimes I think, "Why me?", but how has it affected my career? As a non-diabetic I was playing at Bristol Rovers and post-diagnosis I had a 16-year career at Tottenham and played for England.

Mabbutt agreed to this interview to shine a light on the constant work to tackle diabetes

Mabbutt, pictured in 1982, played more than 600 times for Spurs and 16 times for England

'At the start, it used to be, "Gary Mabbutt, the diabetic". Bobby Robson called me the bionic man. Within 18 months it was never mentioned. I showed that I was just a footballer. You think it is the end of the world but this showed what could be done.

'I had to be strict. I couldn't go out drinking. I had to stick rigidly to my injections. I'd have a blood test at half-time and take what I needed. I hated injections but given the option of injecting yourself or die, it was an easy decision.

'Before I drive anywhere I do a blood test, a pin prick and my machine gives me a reading. I will do one before the function tonight. When I tell people I take seven injections and 10 blood tests a day, they think it sounds awful but after nearly 40 years, to me it's like brushing my teeth.'

Only twice during his career did things go seriously wrong. 'I have had only two diabetic comas, which isn't bad going,' he said. 'Once I didn't show for a Spurs game so Ossie Ardiles called his neighbours and they came round.

'The police broke in and I was unconscious on the floor. I had my machine in my bag but it had given a faulty reading. It happened with England, too. I was rooming with Paul Stewart and when he woke I was unconscious on the floor. I'd fallen out of bed. Same thing again.

'I have occasional hypos (when blood glucose levels fall too low) but that's common. So I always carry fruit pastilles [he gets them out of his pocket] with me. They are best for me if I suddenly feel my blood sugars lowering.'

The inspirational Mabbutt poses proudly after receiving his MBE at Buckingham Palace  

Loved by Tottenham fans, Mabbutt is also feted in Coventry.

It was his extra-time own goal in the 1987 FA Cup final that gave Coventry a 3-2 win over David Pleat's fancied team and the Midlands club still have a fanzine named after Mabbutt.

'I reckon 99 times out of 100 it would have hit my knee and gone out of play,' Mabbutt winced, 'but this time it looped over Ray Clemence and into the net.

'Richard Keys is a big Coventry fan and always calls me "Legend", not Gary. And lots of Coventry fans have kissed and photographed my left knee.

'I was voted the most influential player in Coventry's history on one website and although it was devastating at the time I have to laugh now. The first game the next season was at Coventry and both sets of fans were singing, "There's only one Gary Mabbutt".'

Mabbutt struggled with his circulation that hot Wembley day and was struggling to feel his feet before extra time. 'That was common for me,' he shrugged.

The 1991 FA Cup final is remembered for the injury suffered by another great, Paul Gascoigne

After that final Mabbutt, then 25, required a major operation to widen his arteries in a bid to improve blood flow. His stomach still carries the scar.

He was also in high demand. He received calls that summer from Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson.

At a barbecue, George Graham even asked if he would join rivals Arsenal. 'Kenny wanted me to partner Alan Hansen,' Mabbutt revealed. 'He told me that he wanted myself, John Barnes and Peter Beardsley that summer. He got John and Peter.' 

Dalglish was later a guest on Mabbutt's This is Your Life show, commenting that he was the only player that he wanted to sign but didn't. 'They were great offers but I loved playing for Tottenham,' said Mabbutt. 'I was enjoying it and I have an amazing rapport with our fans. So I stayed.'

Four years later, Mabbutt was rewarded. Spurs were back at Wembley and this time beat Nottingham Forest in the 1991 FA Cup final. Again the game was settled in extra time, again an own goal. 'This time it was Des Walker and I tried to console him,' Mabbutt said.

That final is remembered for the injury suffered by Paul Gascoigne. Some testimonies have said the Spurs playmaker was wound up to the point of distraction beforehand.

Before winning the FA Cup, Mabbutt also helped Tottenham secure 1984 UEFA Cup triumph

After retiring in 1998, Mabbutt had offers to try management - but decided against it 

'Gazza was no different than he ever was,' said Mabbutt. 'He was always hyped. In the warm-ups he would chip the ball into the middle of the brass band. Instruments would fly everywhere, chaos. Then they'd get back together and he'd do it again. I saw him do it that day and thought, "Gazza is up for it".

'Gazza and Glenn Hoddle were the two best midfielders I ever played with. Gazza was hard work to look after but what an incredible talent.'

After retiring in 1998, Mabbutt had offers to try management but advice from one of the very best resonated. 'I was chatting to Bill Nicholson,' he said. 'A lovely man — he brought me to Tottenham. As chief scout he recommended me to Keith Burkinshaw.

'I once asked him if there were any regrets from his career and he said, "I walked my daughter up the aisle and suddenly realised I didn't even know her". He'd been so full-on with the game. It hit me. I couldn't think of not seeing my daughters grow up.'

At a barbecue, George Graham even asked if he would join Tottenham's arch rivals Arsenal

Mabbutt was in high demand - and received call from Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson

Mabbutt's youngest daughter, Tabitha, is now 13 while Stephanie is 18 and about to study veterinary science at Cambridge University. Mabbutt has seen both grow up.

As well as his work for Spurs, he sits on FA disciplinary committees, runs a football consultancy business — Soccer Services Ltd — and works for iPro Sport.

He is optimistic for this Spurs team and identifies a key difference to the side in which he played with Gascoigne, Hoddle and Waddle in the 1980s. 'That team broke up. This one hasn't,' he said.

'It's been an outstanding couple of years. The club is in its best shape for a long time. Players like Dele Alli and Harry Kane have potential to be up there with any in our history.'

Despite his own chequered history with Wembley, Mabbutt feels the current Spurs team should have no qualms about playing there.

Mabbutt was emotional when Spurs left White Hart Lane but he sees the bigger picture

He believes players like Dele Alli (L) have the potential to be up there with any in club's history

'My father played for Bristol Rovers and his dream was to play at Wembley but he never got there,' he said. 'These players get the chance every other week so it's nonsense to talk about a Wembley jinx. We should relish it. I see no downside.'

Mabbutt was emotional when Spurs left White Hart Lane but he sees the bigger picture. He does not do downsides.

Shortly after his own diagnosis with type-2 diabetes, Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave called Mabbutt. 'He was diagnosed between winning gold medals four and five,' said Mabbutt. 'I said it would be no problem for him and he went on to win his fifth medal as a type 2 diabetic. Fabulous.

'If I see a youngster who is poorly but wants to play football I tell him or her one simple thing: "Go and be the next diabetic to play for England".'

For more information about diabetes go to www.diabetes.org.uk or call 0345 123 2399

As an ambassador for Diabetes UK, Mabbutt is aware of the complications of his condition