‘I’m healthy, it feels unreal,’ says former Leeds United star Dominic Matteo

Matteo received the all-clear this week after nearly six months of rehabilitation work since the growth was removed.

The 45-year-old, who also played for Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and Scotland, thanked staff at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital when he revealed the news on Twitter yesterday.

“Yesterday I got THE phone call, the one I’ve been praying for... my brain scan is clear,” he tweeted.

“After six months of fear pain rehab surgery and treatment. I’m healthy! It feels unreal!

“The LGI &St James hospital saved my life. They were simply incredible. Thank you will never be enough!”

Matteo played for the most successful Leeds team since the days of Howard Wilkinson, and made a quick impact.

Despite failing a medical he joined in August 2005 from first club Liverpool after a clash of personalities with then-manager Gerard Houllier, and made his debut against AC Milan in a Champions League group game the following month. He scored in the reverse fixture, a 1-1 draw in the San Siro, guaranteeing hero status on the Elland Road terraces.

“There was a connection with me and the Leeds fans pretty instantly,” he would later say.

Leeds and Milan qualified from the group at Barcelona’s expense, and Leeds went on to reach the semi-finals that season. Matteo also scored against Besiktas in the first group stage.

Matteo succeeded Rio Ferdinand as club captain when the central defender joined Manchester United in 2002. He joined Blackburn on a free transfer when Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in 2004.

The Scot made 146 appearances in all competitions for the Whites, scoring four goals and returned as a club ambassador.

“There’s not a week goes by when I don’t think about that relegation – not a chance,” he has since admitted. “From where we were to where went to, I still have nightmares about it.

“I still feel partly responsible. I’m big enough to admit that. I was captaining the side at the time. There was a lot of other things off the field, there was a lot of things on the field, but I always say I don’t care who the manager is, what the off-field problems are, it’s the players – they’re the ones that cross the line.”