Eusebio has operation on arteries

Portugal's most celebrated former player Eusebio underwent successful surgery on his cartoid arteries early yesterday, a hospital spokesman said.

The surgery was to unblock the arteries that carry blood to the brain and diminish the risk of the 65-year-old having a stroke.

The spokesman said the operation had gone to plan and that Eusebio could be released in three to four days.

The surgery took place at Benfica's newly opened hospital, about 500 metres from the Stadium of Light where the Mozambique-born "Black Panther" thrilled crowds in the 1960s and 1970s.

During his professional career he scored about 1,000 goals as a striker with Benfica and Portugal. Twice he won Europe's Golden Boot award as Europe's top scorer.