'Who knows how much longer I have left to live?' - Former Premier League striker reveals devastating health update as he lifts lid on hellish kidney condition

The 45-year-old, who played for Werder Bremen between 2001 and 2008, was embroiled in a 12-year legal battle with the Bundesliga side's doctors and was awarded almost £4m in 2020. Klasnic believes the medicine prescribed during his time at the club worsened his kidney condition.

Klasnic, who would go on to play for Nantes, Bolton and Mainz after leaving Werder in 2008, argued that the painkillers he was prescribed during his time with the German side ultimately contributed to his kidney damage, which meant the former striker was forced to retire prematurely.

The former striker, who was capped 41 times for Croatia, also underwent three kidney transplants as a result of the painkillers prescribed by the Werder Bremen club doctors.

Speaking to a recent German TV documentary, Klasic is quoted by the Mirror as saying: "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. 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."

The British Medical Journey also revealed the findings of the court hearing back in 2017, stating: "Two doctors who worked on behalf of the German Bundesliga football club Werder Bremen contributed to the kidney problems of Ivan Klasnic, a former Croatia international player who underwent two kidney transplants in 2007 and now requires a third, a German court has ruled.

"In the ruling issued on 31 March 2017, Bremen District Court, where Klasnic filed a civil malpractice lawsuit in 2008, awarded him €100 000 (£85 600; $106 700) as compensation for pain and suffering.

"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."

Klasnic made history during his playing days as he became the first professional footballer to play with a donor kidney, with his third kidney transplant coming after he retired. However, the medical malpractice by the club doctors was given as a reason for leaving the German side when his contract expired as he did not want to work with the same medical staff.

Having won his legal battle, Klasnic's lawyer, Matthias Teichner, felt the decision was the right one, saying: "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."

Werder have struggled in the opening weeks of the Bundesliga season having won only two of their six league matches to date. They return to action next weekend when they take on FC Heidenheim.