Former Real Madrid midfielder Gago survives acute heart attack after coaching win in Chile

What happened on Thursday night

Universidad de Chile defeated O'Higgins 2-0 in a rescheduled round-13 match at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, moving the club to third place in the Chilean league with 24 points. After the game, coach Fernando Gago attended the post-match press conference and began discussing his team's performance. Moments later, he visibly felt unwell, and the press conference was cut short. Several media outlets captured images of the incident, which quickly sparked concern among fans and the wider South American football community.

Medical intervention

Gago was taken to hospital in Santiago, where he was admitted in the early hours of June 19 with an acute heart attack. Doctors diagnosed coronary heart disease caused by a blockage in a mid-segment of an artery. He underwent an urgent procedure, described by local reports as emergency surgery, to treat the blockage. The club later confirmed that the 40-year-old Argentine is stable and under observation, though the full extent of the intervention has not been publicly detailed.

“We inform that our head coach, Fernando Gago, is undergoing a series of cardiovascular exams and will not lead training today. He is in good condition and accompanied by our medical staff.”

League and next steps

The victory left Universidad de Chile third in the standings, two points behind Universidad Católica and 12 points adrift of leaders Colo Colo. With the league in recess, the focus now shifts to the Copa Chile. The club expects Sunday's fixture against Santiago Wanderers to be directed by Gago's assistant, former Argentina international Fabricio Coloccini. Gago remains under medical observation, and no return date has been set.