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Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock, a legendary figure in English football, has disclosed how Harry Redknapp’s television program significantly contributed to turning his life around.
The ex-Liverpool defender shared that what he initially thought was dementia turned out to be a serious heart condition, with doctors cautioning that he had a mere two months left to live.
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At 56 years of age, Ruddock has made substantial changes to his lifestyle and decreased his alcohol intake, crediting a large part of his transformation to Harry Redknapp’s show ‘Harry’s Heroes’.
Speaking with Nigel Farage on GB News, he stated: “From the time I left school until I was 35, people told me where I had to be each day.
“They dictated my diet and what I could consume. After I turned 35, that control vanished.
“There was no support when my football career concluded. I lived like an 18-year-old eager to retire at 35, enjoy life, and eventually reached a point of 28 and a half stone.
“Participating in the Harry’s Heroes show made me feel lightheaded. At that time, the conversation around dementia in football due to heading the ball was prevalent.
“I thought I might be experiencing dementia. After several consultations with specialists, I discovered it was my heart; they informed me, ‘if you continue this way, you have only two months to live’.
“That experience genuinely transformed my life; they needed to stop my heart and then restart it. I was fitted with a pacemaker and opted for gastric sleeve surgery… because I had essentially lost hope in myself.
“If it hadn’t been for that television show, I wouldn’t be here today.”
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The acclaimed documentary series premiered in 2020.
The show challenged Redknapp to help a group of out-of-shape England football legends from the 1990s return to competitive form.
Neil Ruddock and Paul Merson argue about Merson’s drinking habits on Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having A Laugh
The cast included several familiar faces, such as David Seaman, Paul Merson, and Matt Le Tissier, eager to prove they could still play on the pitch despite being in their middle age, competing against their old rivals Germany.
Viewers saw these former stars, who came from a time when football training and diet were less rigorous, as they embraced a strict new fitness and nutrition plan akin to that of modern athletes.
Former Liverpool player and 2018 ‘King of the Jungle’ assistant John Barnes led them to a 4-2 victory.
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Ruddock, who received one England cap during his career, recounted his heart scare with the other cast members in one of the episodes.
Redknapp had previously managed Ruddock during his time at West Ham in the late 1990s.
When asked what advice he would give to those worried about their health, he advised: “Go to the doctor. It doesn’t cost anything.
“If your car makes a strange noise, you take it to the mechanic and pay to have it addressed.
“If you’re feeling unwell, go see a doctor, as many men fear doing so.
“Bad news could hinder your ability to enjoy watching football on a Saturday night.
“Don’t hesitate; get yourself checked. It costs nothing.”
Earlier this year, Ruddock unveiled his extraordinary journey of losing 11 stones.
His transformation began in 2021 after coming across TV personality James Argent.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he had ballooned to 27 stones, putting his health at risk.
Over a 17-year career, Ruddock made 195 Premier League appearances, representing clubs such as Liverpool, West Ham, Tottenham, Southampton, and Crystal Palace.
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