Surgery for 'Gentle Giant' Charles
MILAN, Italy -- Former Wales and Juventus striker John Charles has undergone emergency heart surgery, the Italian news agency ANSA reported on Wednesday.
The 72-year-old was admitted to Milan's San Carlo hospital late on Tuesday night and had a two-hour operation.
Charles, who won three Italian titles with Juventus after making his name with Leeds, was visited by friends and family. His condition was described as 'normal', ANSA said.
Known as the 'Gentle Giant', Charles, who could play as a central defender or striker, is considered to be one of Juve's all-time great players.
He scored 93 goals in 155 league appearances for the Turin club and also won two Italian Cup winner's medals after joining Juve for a then British record fee of 65,000 pounds in 1957.
Charles, who won 38 Wales caps, also played for AS Roma and Cardiff City, while his 42 goals for Leeds in 1953-54 remains a club record.
Born in Cwmdu near Swansea in south Wales, Charles was scheduled to have appeared as a guest on a popular Italian sports television programme on Tuesday night.
