I’m a former Premier League star who joined Chelsea, I was hours from going blind before emergency op saved my sight

FORMER Premier League star Magnus Hedman has revealed his relief after almost going blind in one eye.

The Sweden international keeper enjoyed four top-flight seasons with Coventry.

Magnus Hedman came close to losing his eyesight

The former Chelsea ace was forced to undergo emergency surgery

PA:Press Association

Hedman joined the Blues under Jose Mourinho[/caption]

Hedman later came out of retirement to join Chelsea, but never played for the Blues before leaving in 2007.

The 51-year-old also spent three seasons with Celtic between 2002 and 2005.

Capped 58 times, Hedman now works as a mind coach in Sweden.

But he underwent surgery in a Solna hospital on Sunday after losing the sight in his right eye.

Doctors found the ex-player had suffered a detached retina.

Hedman admitted: “If I hadn’t gone in as an emergency, it would have been over.

“It started when I saw lightning. I thought it would just go away, but it was like I had a curtain covering my retina.

“The hospital took me in right away.  I had to lie down without a pillow for a day, then had surgery on Sunday morning.

“If I hadn’t gone in I would have gone blind.

“It was important not to get stressed. It is scary, and I thought about losing my sight.

“But I told myself: ‘Stay calm – you’re in the right place now.’

“They called in the anaesthetist straight away. He came in on the Sunday, and I joked that I’d messed up his weekend.

“The vitreous body becomes softer and more fragile the older you get. If you get a blow in your eye it can also have an effect, and I’ve had a few during my career.

“If you don’t act quickly, and the retinal detachment goes over the macula, then you’re screwed.

“You realise that things can change very quickly. Vision is a big part of life.”

Hedman paid tribute to the staff at the St Erik’s eye clinic in Karolinska University Hospital.

“They explained things to me all the time, and really took care of me. I am extremely grateful.

“It’s important to say that – as usually you read a lot of s*** about the Swedish health care system.”

In 2019, Hedman bravely told SunSport of the drugs battle that led him to contemplating suicide.

Recounting the experience, which happened in 2011 – four years after he left Chelsea – he said: “I’d gone home and Googled the best ways towards suicide.

“I was stood on the balcony for hours, 12 floors up, thinking about jumping. Then I had a phone call from a friend that dragged me into the city centre to meet at their house, so I never took that step.”

Having been offered speed by a pal, Hedman found himself on a slippery slope.

He explained: “I thought I could just try it — but I got addicted straight away and was that way for four years.”

Hedman went on to add: “The drugs helped me feel calm and not have to worry so much — but it ruined my life in other aspects.

“I now realise that when I gave up football I had just replaced it with something else, which is very normal for an addicted person.”

Having fallen to his lowest ebb, Hedman was introduced to a mental health specialist named Mia.

After being taken to a recovery centre, the former goalkeeper spent a month weaning off drugs.

Reflecting on his experience after a number of years sober, he said: “It’s always good to speak to friends — but they are not psychologists.

“It’s best to speak to someone you don’t have a connection with, someone professional.”

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.