Ex-Premier League star, Ivan Klasnic, says he could die at any time after painkillers prescribed by his old club ruined his health following an undiagnosed condition.
Klasnic has had three kidney transplants and won a £4million settlement from former side Werder Bremen in 2020 after painkillers given by the club led to his renal disease getting worse.
The 45-year-old, best known in England for his four years at Bolton, spoke about his concerning health on German TV.
On a documentary, the Croatian said: ‘Who knows how much longer I have left to live. I have to be grateful that I am still alive, even though I am ill and I need to take tablets.
‘Of course I am furious. I would not want anybody to have to endure what I have been through.
‘No matter how much money I have received in compensation, it won’t bring my health back.’
Ivan Klasnic has spoken in detail about his worrying health and says he could die at any time
Klasnic (left), pictured playing for Bolton against Man United in 2009, says he is furious at having had to endure his painkiller hell
He went on: ‘It is difficult to get by without painkillers if you want to produce a performance on the field.
‘I don’t think that you can play any form of professional sport without using pain-relief drugs.
‘But had I known that I had kidney problems, I would not have taken those medicines.’
Klasnic played for Werder Bremen between 2001 and 2008. In 2007 he suffered kidney failure and required his first transplant – which ruled him out for 10 months.
The following year, Klasnic claimed club doctors had already been aware of the problem in 2002 and brought legal action against them.
Two doctors who worked on the club’s behalf were punished as a result of the law suit.
According to BMJ: ‘Götz Dimanski, who was Werder Bremen’s team doctor in 2007, and Manju Guha, a cardiologist who was responsible for annual routine internal examinations at the time, were ordered to pay for Klasnic’s past and future medical costs, as well as damages for loss of income.’
It was also given as his reason for leaving the club when his contract expired as he did not want to work with the same medical staff.
The former Werder Bremen player said his old club knew of his condition
Klasnic (right) was a success at Bolton and spent four years at the club before they were relegated
Klasnic then signed for for Bolton in the top flight with 24 goals in 93 games up front having signed for the club under Gary Megson in 2009.
By the time he arrived at Bolton, he had already had two kidney transplants and then had another one after becoming seriously ill in 2016.
He has initially been given £900,000 in damages before his lawyers took the case to an even higher court in Germany.
Klasnic was then awarded another £3.6m, taking the total beyond £4m but clearly the finances mean nothing compared to a clean bill of health.
His lawyer, Matthias Teichner said the outcome right and fair.
Klasnic (right) was known as one of the sharpest finishers in the Bolton squad
‘No money in the world can make up for the considerable and permanent damage to my client’s health [but this is] more suitable to create a feeling of justice.
‘At least the doctors were now ready to express their regret about the incidents. In my opinion, this was long overdue.’
Klasnic left Wanderers after their relegation from the Premier League in 2012 for a brief spell at Mainz, where he retired in 2013.
Klasnic won a league and cup double at Bremen and represented his country 41 times, scoring 12 goals.
