Paul Canoville, Chelsea's first black player, is critically ill in hospital following complications during emergency surgery.
Canoville, 58, joined Chelsea in 1981 and is still heavily involved in the club through work with his own foundation.
He has recovered from cancer on three occasions but is now in a critical condition in hospital after surgery.
In a statement, his foundation said: 'We are sad to advise that our founder Paul Canoville is critically ill in hospital after complications set in after emergency surgery.