Borussia Monchengladbach, the German football club, recently revealed that their Austrian defender Stefan Lainer has been diagnosed with lymphoma.
This unfortunate news means that Lainer will now be absent from action for several months as he undergoes treatment for his condition. Despite this setback, the club remains confident in Lainer’s ability to make a full recovery.
In an official statement posted on the club’s website, it was stated, “Stefan Lainer will be missing from action for several months. After medical examinations, the 30-year-old right-back has been diagnosed with lymphoma. The Austria international will now need to undergo several months of treatment. The cancer has been detected extremely early and is treatable with medication. There is an extremely high chance that he will get back to full health, and a normal life including professional sport could still be possible.”
Roland Virkus, the board member for sport for Monchengladbach, expressed the club’s commitment to providing Lainer with the best possible treatment. He also extended his well wishes to Lainer and his family, offering them strength and optimism in their fight against this disease.
Stefan Lainer began his professional career with FC Liefering before representing SV Ried. In the summer of 2015, he made a move to Red Bull Salzburg.
During his time at Salzburg, Lainer made 171 appearances, scoring 13 goals and providing 34 assists. In 2019, he joined Borussia Monchengladbach, where he has played 125 times, scoring four goals and registering 13 assists, including 18 appearances during the 2022-23 campaign.
The news of Lainer’s diagnosis received an outpouring of support, especially from his former club, Red Bull Salzburg. They took to Twitter to express their best wishes, saying, “Our best wishes go out to Stefan Lainer, who has unfortunately been diagnosed with lymphoma. Thankfully, the prognosis is promising, and Stefan has a high chance of making a full recovery. We wish him all the strength he needs during this tough period. Get well soon, Stefan.”
Lainer’s international career has also been noteworthy. He has earned 38 caps for Austria and represented his country in the Euro 2020 tournament.
As Stefan Lainer embarks on his journey towards recovery, fans and the football community stand united in support, hoping for his quick return to the game he loves.