Chris Hughton Reveals Prostate Cancer Treatment After Brighton and Newcastle Managerial Roles

Former Brighton and Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and underwent successful surgery in May, according to his own disclosure reported by BBC Sport.

The 67-year-old former Tottenham full-back, who made 398 appearances for the north London club and won a UEFA Cup and two FA Cups in the early 1980s, said the cancer was detected early and he opted for prostate removal after receiving medical advice.

Hughton, who earned 53 caps for the Republic of Ireland during his playing career, went on to manage several clubs including Newcastle and Brighton, guiding both to promotion to the Premier League.

He also had managerial spells at Birmingham, Norwich, Nottingham Forest, and most recently with the Ghana national team.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Hughton said he did not initially feel scared by the diagnosis, stating: “I know everyone is different, but my first impression was ‘I’ll be fine’. I didn’t instantly think ‘this is probably just going to kill me’. I just thought, ‘OK, we’ll have to do what we have to do’.”

He added: “I had very good advice and all the treatment options were given to me, and I decided to have my prostate removed. The recovery has gone really well.”

Now one year post-operation, Hughton reported feeling good and full of energy, saying: “I’m one year post-operation and I feel good. It’s all gone very well. I’ve got a lot of energy.”

He emphasized the importance of staying active and busy as part of his rehabilitation, noting: “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 expressed comfort with his prognosis, stating: “I’m very comfortable with my prognosis and my post-operation feelings. I’m in a really good place.”

Before moving into management, Hughton spent 14 years at Tottenham as part of the backroom staff between 1993 and 2007.

He won the Championship with Newcastle in the 2009-10 season, securing an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation the previous year.

Although surprisingly sacked by Newcastle in December 2010, he went on to manage several clubs across England over the next decade, including a five-year spell at Brighton from 2014 to 2019.

Throughout his career, Hughton has been a long-time supporter of Prostate Cancer UK charity.