Danish footballer considers retiring after seeing players collapse on the field ‘too often’, having witnessed TWO team-mates, plus his friends Christian Eriksen and Daley Blind suffering medical incidents

• Lasse Schone was on the pitch as team-mate Bas Dost collapsed on Sunday
• It was the second such incident the 37-year-old has witnessed in his career
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

Danish international and NEC Nijmegen midfielder Lasse Schone has cast doubt on his future in the game after witnessing team-mate Bas Dost collapse during an Eredivisie clash last weekend. 

Schone, who has been capped 51 times at international level, also had the misfortune of being on the field in 2017 when his then Ajax team-mate Abdelhak Nouri suddenly collapsed during a practice match. 

Furthermore, the 37-year-old good friends with Christian Eriksen and Daley Blind, who have both suffered a cardiac arrest while playing. 

Schone revealed that the number of incidents have taken a toll and have left him wondering whether to prolong his 18-year professional career much further. 

‘I have experienced it a little too often.’ he told Dutch outlet NOS. ‘It’s been happening a little too often lately. I’m also no longer 22 and have had a long career. I wonder how much longer I want to continue. 

Lasse Schone has wondered whether it’s time to hang up his boots after seeing another friend and colleague collapse on the field

The Dutch striker lost consciousness in the closing stages of his side’s clash with AZ Alkmaar

Bas Dost said that he is ‘doing well’ following his sudden collapse during a match on Sunday

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 ‘I already asked myself that and now even more so. I am now having that conversation with people around me, but I have not decided anything yet.’

On Sunday, after scoring and assisting to give the away side a 2-1 advantage, Dost lost consciousness in the closing stages of the game against AZ Alkmaar. 

Both sets of players formed a ring around the Dutch striker as he received treatment before regaining consciousness and being carried off on a stretcher. 

The 34-year-old shared a photo of himself recovering from a hospital bed on Monday and informed fans that he was ‘doing well’ following the scary ordeal. 

‘The help I received on the field was fantastic.’ He wrote. ‘I’m in the hospital now and I feel good. Thanks for all the support.’ 

Despite the positive outcome the incident has triggered further reflection from Schone who – as an experienced member of NEC’s roster – helped several of his team-mates process the traumatic scenes. 

‘I have indicated what I think about it and told the young [players] that if they are concerned about it, they should talk to friends, family or the captain.’ He added. 

Eriksen was seen sitting up on the stretcher with his eyes open as he was carried off the field in 2021

‘We have to be there for each other. We have a sports psychologist walking around and it is important to keep talking. Some players cry, some players scream and some players laugh. 

‘It all happened and that’s okay. Talking about feelings doesn’t happen often in the football world, but you have to talk about them. Everyone understands that.’

Many fans will recall the same outpouring of emotion when Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s EURO 2020 group stage tie against Belgium. 

The midfielder received treatment on the field for 13 minutes before being taken off on stretcher, though on that occasion the remainder of the game – totalling around 47 minutes – was ordered to be played by UEFA. 

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