Former Chris Hughton has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year but has since undergone successful surgery and is now cancer-free.
The 67-year-old received the diagnosis in April and underwent an operation in May to remove his prostate. The condition was detected early, and he has since made a strong recovery.
Hughton, a former Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland defender who later managed Newcastle United and Brighton in the Premier League, said he is now in good health and hopes to use his experience to raise awareness about the disease.
“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.’”
The former Black Stars coach explained that the warning signs first emerged during a routine health check while he was in charge at Brighton, arranged through the League Managers Association.
Further monitoring showed elevated PSA levels, and a later scan confirmed cancer. He was considered at higher risk due to his age, family history, and ethnicity—factors linked to increased prostate cancer risk among Black men.
“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,” he said.
“I’m one year post-operation, and 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.”
“I’m very comfortable with my prognosis and my post-operation feelings. I’m in a really good place,” he added.
Hughton, who won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup with Tottenham and earned 53 caps for the Republic of Ireland, has previously managed clubs including Birmingham City, Norwich City and Nottingham Forest.
He took charge of the Ghana national football team after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but was dismissed in 2024 following the team’s group-stage exit at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
