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“Angels Always Lead You Down the Right Path”: Soccer Legend’s Emotional Moment After Completing Marathon Swimming Challenge Leaves Sports World in Awe

Published 06/20/2023, 3:27 PM EDT

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via Reuters

The legendary former Scotland and Liverpool captain, Graeme Souness fell from fame as quickly as he rose. Once hailed as a true Liverpool hero, it could be argued that the legendary skipper was monumental in one of the most prepotent spells that Liverpool had. After his stint as captain, Souness also served as the manager of Liverpool, and that’s when things went awry for him.

Graeme Souness fell from the ladder of fame as fast as he climbed it. The light exuded by this star dimmed a little in the eyes of fans. However, it seems like the Scot is now winning back some hearts that he lost, after gathering major charity and goodwill for a noble cause.

The journey of Graeme Souness from pariah to pundit

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With a recent act of kindness, the soccer legend has rekindled some love amongst his fans. His goal was to raise around £1 million, which is more than $1.2 million, and he did so by swimming across the English Channel. The charity event was organized by DEBRA UK, the national charity which works for people suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a horrendous skin disease. Epidermolysis Bullosa is a group of rare skin diseases, which essentially result in skin that can bruise and break very easily but takes longer to heal.

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Graeme Souness was part of a six-man relay team, who took turns to swim across the 21-mile crossing in 12 hours and 7 minutes. The 70-year-old got inspired to root for the cause after he met someone he described as “a very special young lady”. When the 14-year-old Isla Grist came into Souness’s life, he was devastated at the travesty she had to suffer. In conversation with talkSPORT, the soccer legend cried while regaling the sad state of EB patients. According to talkSPORT, Souness wanted to raise money to enable scientists to re-purpose drugs and find a cure.

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After meeting the teenager Isla, the Rangers icon revealed that he felt he had been selfish in the past. He said, “It’s made me realize we’re all so selfish, I’d like to think it’s going to make me a better person, you can talk to me in six months’ time.” Despite being a formidable leader on the field, when Graeme Souness became the Liverpool manager, he was not able to transfer his on-field characteristics to his new role. This turned the community against him. However, after this massive feat, the television pundit has become somewhat of a saint in real life as well.

Netizens praise the selfless act

After reading the amazing act of Souness on Facebook in a post shared by talkSPORTS, a fan commented, “Angels always lead you down the right path What a guy, amazing and inspiring, well done GS”. Another impressed follower wrote, “Graeme Souness absolute legend.” A commentator praised the noble actions of Souness, and said, “I take my hat of to you! Sterling work for a very worthy cause.” Many spoke in favor of the ex-Liverpool hero, for bringing awareness to the important cause.

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Someone commented, “Well done, Graeme Souness. Debra do amazing work but so many people have never even heard of EB. High profile people being involved can only help the charity grow”. A reader of the post also shared a personal experience, saying, “…doing this mammoth task for this wonderful charity is amazing, lost my nephew to EB ten years ago and the trauma he went through in his really short life was horrific…” There is no doubt that this altruistic act by Graeme Souness will change the lives of many.

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Written by:

Apoorva Behl

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Apoorva Behl is a sports writer for EssentiallySports. With a range that would make Bruce Lee proud, Apoorva’s writing embodies the philosophy of "Be Like Water," flowing seamlessly between a diverse range of sports and sensitive angles. Her articles are known to resonate with her audience, earning her a common spot on the Editor’s Pick list.
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Edited by:

Anupama Ghosh