Former Premier League star Marcus Stewart has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
The 49-year-old, whose playing career spanned across two decades with spells at Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town, Sunderland, Bristol City, Yeovil Town and Exeter City, has been diagnosed after 12 months of testing, it was confirmed on Thursday afternoon.
Stewart confirmed the news in a joint statement via the Professional Footballers Association and Yeovil Town, where he currently holds the position of head of player development.
Stewart said: "I would like to take the opportunity to thank those closest to me for their unwavering support since my recent diagnosis. As I take the time to adjust, my intention is to continue to enjoy my work in football and spend time with my family.
"In the future, I would like to use my platform within football to help raise awareness around MND, but in the short-term, I would like to ask for privacy on behalf of myself and my family."
MND affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord and is a degenerative condition, for which there is currently no cure.
Stewart made over 650 appearances during his professional career and enjoyed spells in the Premier League with both Sunderland and Ipswich Town. The striker played a key role in Ipswich's promotion to the top-flight in 2000 and netted 19 goals the following season to fire the Tractor Boys to an unexpected fifth-placed finish and a UEFA Cup spot.
The striker, who started his career at Bristol Rovers in 1991, was signed by Ipswich in a then-club record deal back in 2000 from Huddersfield.
Stewart played at every tier of professional football and has held coaching roles at Exeter City, Bristol Rovers and Walsall before taking up his current role at Yeovil. Stewart was appointed by the non-league side earlier this summer.
The ex-forward is a popular figure in Somerset from his brief spell at the club as a player and was on the scoresheet during the Glovers' shock triumph over Nottingham Forest in the 2007 League One play-off campaign.
The joint statement, which was also shared by Ipswich, continued: "Everyone at Yeovil Town and the PFA is committed to supporting Marcus and his family in whatever way we can. We know the same will be true of fans of Marcus’ previous clubs and the wider football family."
