32-year-old former Premier League footballer loses battle to cancer

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Former Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop has died at the age of 32 after a battle with cancer.

Fulop played for nine English clubs after joining Tottenham from MTK Budapest in 2004 and also represented Hungary on 24 occasions.

He had a tumour removed from his arm in 2013 but never played professional football again.

He last played for Greek side Asteras Tripoli during the 2012-13 season before undergoing a successful operation to have the tumour removed.

Speaking after his surgery in June 2013, Fulop said: 'I am sure that after a few months I will be ready both physically and mentally to continue playing football.

'I'd like to train between treatment courses, as the doctors have said this is fine and heartily recommend it.'

A statement on MTK's official website read: 'We are deeply sorrowful and grieved to announce that after a long illness, Marton Fulop has died.'

Budapest-born Fulop joined Spurs from his first club, MTK, at the age of 21 in the summer of 2004 but did not make a first-team appearance for them.

Loan spells at Chesterfield, Coventry and Sunderland followed before he made the move to Wearside permanently in January 2007.

He stayed with the Black Cats until 2010, making more than 40 appearances - although he also had loan stints at Leicester and Stoke during that time.

Manchester City signed Fulop on an emergency loan in 2010 because of injuries to regular No 1 Shay Given and back-up keepers Stuart Taylor and David Gonzalez, while current England No 1 Joe Hart was on loan at Birmingham.

The Hungarian made just three appearances for City before signing a two-year deal with Ipswich in 2010. The Suffolk side were managed by Roy Keane, who signed him at Sunderland.

Source: Daily Mail