Former Premier League boss, 67, opens up on cancer diagnosis after making full recovery

Jack Otway
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:49:06 +0000

Chris Hughton, the former Premier League manager who led Brighton, Newcastle, Norwich and Birmingham, has disclosed that he received a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2025.

The 67-year-old underwent an operation to have his prostate removed in May 2025 and has since made a complete recovery.

Hughton, whose final managerial role was with Ghana's national side before it concluded in 2024, is now entirely free of cancer.

The ex-Tottenham, West Ham and Brentford player managed 169 top-flight matches during his career in the dugout and is speaking publicly about his health battle to help others.

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Upon learning of his diagnosis, Hughton responded with remarkable composure rather than alarm.

"The news certainly didn't scare me," he said. "I know everyone is different, but my first impression was: 'I'll be fine.'"

The veteran manager adopted a straightforward mindset when confronting the illness, refusing to let fear take hold.

"I didn't instantly think 'this is probably just going to kill me,'" Hughton explained. "I just thought: 'Ok, we'll have to do what we have to do.'"

After receiving comprehensive medical guidance and being presented with various treatment options, he opted for surgical removal of his prostate.

The disease was identified during a routine annual health examination whilst Hughton was working at Brighton, a screening programme facilitated by the League Managers Association.

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Hughton fell into a higher-risk group for prostate cancer, being a black man aged over 50 who also had relatives who had suffered from the condition.

Blood tests conducted every six months revealed an increase in his prostate specific antigen levels, alerting medical professionals to the potential problem.

This early detection through regular monitoring proved crucial, enabling Hughton to begin treatment promptly and ultimately achieve a full recovery from the disease.

Hughton has described his recuperation as progressing exceptionally well in the twelve months since his operation.

"I'm one year post operation and I feel good. It's all gone very well. I've got a lot of energy," he said.

The 67-year-old emphasised that staying physically and mentally engaged has been central to his rehabilitation process.

"Keeping active and busy is part of how I am anyway, but it's also about rehabilitation and keeping your mind active as well," Hughton added. "I'm very comfortable with my prognosis and my post operation feelings. I'm in a really good place."

He now hopes his experience will encourage others to undergo regular health screenings.