Former Liverpool defender Rigobert Song has been left in critical condition after suffering a debilitating stroke in Cameroon.
The Liverpool Echo reports that the 40-year-old is thought to have suffered a cerebral aneurysm before being rushed to hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon, where he is currently understood to be in a fight for his life.
Now the head coach of Chad's international team, Song made his first foray into English football when he joined Liverpool for £2.9m back in January 1999 but played just 35 times for the Reds before leaving for West Ham in 2000.
He won 137 caps for Cameroon between 1993 and 2010 and managed to help his side to the honour of winning an Olympic gold medal at the Sydney Olympics back in 2000.
The combative defender also managed to play with his nephew Alex Song, who has turned out for Arsenal, Barcelona and West Ham, in the national team for five years before Rigobert's international retirement in 2010.
His former Liverpool teammates of offered words of support to the star, with Jamie Carragher tweeting: "Hope everything ends up okay".
Hope everything ends up ok for #rigobertsong
Robbie Fowler, who also played with Song during the 1999-2000 season, tweeted his support of his former teammate and his family.
Thoughts with #RigobertSong and family... Hope he pulls through
Thoughts and prayers with Rigobert Song and his family. Stay strong Songy
#Rigobert Song May God be with U!!! Get well soon ???
We want to send our prayers and good wishes to Rigobert Song who is currently in intensive care. Our hearts are with you, lion! pic.twitter.com/QTAdYgP9gp