“THIS is very much a family club. Phil O'Donnell embodied that family spirit in every way. He was a great family man and our thoughts are with Eileen and their children.

“Over the years I've got to know a lot of players and you could not meet a better man than Phil. He was in every way the heart of Motherwell and he will be sadly missed by so many people.”

John Boyle - Motherwell chairman

“He was the perfect role model to any young professional. Phil was part of a very big and a very strong family and they'll need that strength now because you just can't imagine a professional footballer getting prepared for a game, playing the game and then not going back home.

“Everybody loved him. I don't know anyone in the game who did not like Phil O'Donnell.”

Terry Butcher

"IN all my time in Scottish football I can't remember a bad word said about Phil O'Donnell and that speaks volumes considering what is usually said about footballers.

"If a player ever deserved an Indian summer in his career it was Phil and he was having that at Motherwell - they were having a great time this year.

"He was club captain and he was making the very best of it. It was terribly tragic because he really deserved this period of happiness and success at Motherwell."

Pat Nevin