Villas-Boas withdraws from Dakar Rally after being hospitalised

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The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss's run in the rally is over after a premature exit at the fourth stage

Andre Villas-Boas' Dakar Rally debut ended in the fourth stage after the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager was taken to hospital following a crash.

Villas-Boas was hospitalised on Tuesday due to back pain sustained in an accident when the Overdrive Toyota driver hit a dune during the San Juan de Marcona stage in Peru, according to reports. 

"Andre was taken to the hospital with a back injury. It was unfortunate for Andre, who was making a very positive debut in the Dakar," Overdrive team director Jean-Marc Fortin was quoted as saying.

Stoke's Moussa Niakate signs, makes debut, grabs assist, gets sent off – all in four hours

Joe Brewin
Joe Brewin

Joe was the Deputy Editor at FourFourTwo until 2022, having risen through the FFT academy and been on the brand since 2013 in various capacities. 


By weekend and frustrating midweek night he is a Leicester City fan, and in 2020 co-wrote the autobiography of former Foxes winger Matt Piper – subsequently listed for both the Telegraph and William Hill Sports Book of the Year awards.