Bove opens up on cardiac arrest: "I remember waking up to my family's incredible happiness"

Bove reflects on his cardiac arrest in December 2024, saying he has no memory of the incident itself but recalls waking to his family's joy; he now plays for Watford with a defibrillator.

Edoardo Bove has opened up about his near-fatal cardiac arrest almost two years ago in an interview with Sky Sport 24, where he discussed a documentary titled "In Un Battito" (In One Heartbeat). The Watford midfielder, who previously played for Roma and Fiorentina, revealed he has no recollection of the incident itself, only of waking up and seeing his family's overwhelming relief and happiness.

Bove explained that the experience forced him to reassess his priorities. He now lives with a defibrillator and has worked with a mental coach and psychotherapist to process the trauma of returning to football. "The defibrillator hasn't changed me or caused me difficulties," he said.

"I had moments of fear when I returned to playing, but I worked through that. Today I'm calm and have football back at the centre of my life with a different awareness. I'm less afraid of the future—football is important to me, but there's so much else in life."

Bove was particularly grateful to Fiorentina, the club where he was playing when he collapsed. "Fiorentina is another family, absolutely," he said. "They were there for me in the most difficult moment of my life. I will never stop thanking them. My teammates always made me feel part of the squad, even when I was out. I'll carry that relationship with me forever."