Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray says he is 'devastated' to learn his friend and former Ipswich teammate Marcus Stewart has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Striker Stewart, who spent three years at Sunderland in the early-2000s, revealed this afternoon that he is living with the condition.
The 49-year-old is currently head of player development at National League Yeovil Town and intends to continue working in football despite his diagnosis with the disease, which is a progressive condition of the brain and nerves which can significantly shorten a person's lifespan. There is no cure, although there are treatments to reduce its impact on daily life, and some people can live with the condition for many years.
"I would like to take the opportunity to thank those closest to me for their unwavering support since my recent diagnosis," said Stewart, who spent three years at Sunderland in the early-to-mid 2000s. "As I take the time to adjust, my intention is to continue to enjoy my work in football and spend time with my family.
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"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."
Prior to his move to Sunderland in the summer of 2002, Stewart spent two years at Ipswich where he was a teammate of Mowbray as the Suffolk side won promotion to the Premier League in 2000. Mowbray said: "It's hard to know what to say.
"Marcus was a fantastic footballer, he played in an Ipswich team that finished fifth in the Premier League after winning promotion in 2000. He's just a great guy, really, a lovely football man.
"It's actually quite painful for me hearing this about a teammate who was so young and so talented, and is such a nice personality. I think the last time I came across him was when he was on the coaching staff at Bristol Rovers.
"I just wish him well, and I know how tough it is, motor neurone disease. There are some pretty high profile people who have it in world sport, in rugby and rugby league and what have you.
"It's devastating news and I find it difficult to put my thoughts into words because he was such a good friend and a brilliant teammate. I remember him scoring the winner at Anfield, Ipswich went to Liverpool and won 1-0 in the Premier League and Marcus scored a brilliant goal.
"I've got great memories of him and I prefer to concentrate on those great days, the happy smile, and the goal celebrations, and I wish him well in the battle he has ahead."
Last month, former Blackburn, Hartlepool, Burnley, and Swansea midfielder Lenny Johnrose died at the age of 52 following a five-year battle with MND. And ex-Liverpool, Bradford City, and Bolton defender Stephen Darby - who is married to Durham-born England international and ex-Sunderland Ladies star Steph Houghton - is living with the condition having been diagnosed in 2018 at the age of 29.
Darby set up the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation to fund and assist research into the condition, as well as to help those who have been diagnosed with MND, and Stewart is backing the cause. Stewart and his wife Louise have set up a JustGiving page with all proceeds going to the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.
Stewart started his career at Bristol Rovers and had spells at Huddersfield Town and Ipswich before making his £3.25m move from Portman Road to Wearside. The Black Cats were relegated from the Premier League in his first season at the club, but he was top-scorer for the next two seasons as Mick McCarthy's side reached the play-offs in 2004 and then won the newly-renamed Championship in 2005.
He hit 16 goals as Sunderland reached the play-off semi-finals in 2003-04, and again scored 16 goals in 2004-05 as the Black Cats won promotion back to the top flight. Stewart made 119 appearances for Sunderland in all competitions, scoring 39 goals, before leaving in the wake of promotion to join Bristol City, saying he felt he was too old to play in the Premier League.
He later went on to spend time at Preston North End on loan, Yeovil, and finally Exeter City before retiring in 2011. Stewart has since worked in coaching roles with Exeter, Bristol Rovers, and Walsall before joining Yeovil as head of player development in June.
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