British soccer player Joe Thompson dead at 36 following third battle with cancer

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Former British soccer player Joe Thompson died this week after battling cancer for the third time in more than a decade, his wife announced on social media. He was just 36. 

Thompson, who officially retired from the sport in 2019, died in the "early morning hours" on Thursday at home surrounded by his family. The news of his passing came a year after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma. 

File - Joe Thompson of Tranmere Rovers. (AMA/Corbis via Getty Images, File)

It was his third cancer diagnosis since 2013. 

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"Joe has made such an impact on so many people and we are all forever grateful for him blessing us with his presence and for being so strong and staying with us as long as he did against all the odds," Chantelle Thompson wrote in a post on Instagram Friday. 

"He was the most Incredible husband, son, brother, friend & father to our beautiful daughters, who will now carry his light and legacy on and I will continue to keep filling them up with Joe’s love every single day." 

Thompson, a former Manchester United academy player, made more than 200 appearances for local club Rochdale. The club issued a statement following his death. 

FILE - Rochdale's Joe Thompson celebrates after scoring during a League Two match, in Rochdale, England, March 3, 2010.  (PA via AP, File)

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"We first knew Joe primarily as a talented footballer, but we would soon grow to adore his loving, infectious personality," the statement read in part. "He faced every battle head-on, both on and off the pitch. His