Ex-Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba graduates in sports media

Fabrice Muamba has covered press conferences as a football journalist, the university said

Former footballer Fabrice Muamba, who had a cardiac arrest on the pitch, has graduated in a sports media course.

Muamba, 27, who collapsed while playing for Bolton Wanderers at Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, gained a BA (Hons) at Staffordshire University.

The former midfielder took a professional sports writing and broadcasting course.

Muamba had worked "very hard" including attending football club press conferences, the university said.

His heart was restarted with a defibrillator after he collapsed in an FA Cup tie in March 2012.

Nuts and bolts

Senior lecturer in sports journalism and sports public relations Ian Bayley said: "He turned up to cover press conferences as a football journalist and players and managers have almost raised their eyebrows.

"I gather on occasions he's been invited into a manager's inner sanctum just for a chat. I think Arsene Wenger invited him into his office.

"With the contacts (Muamba's) got and the regard in which he is held within the game, that'll be a bonus for him."

Mr Bayley said the former Birmingham City footballer had done some broadcasting punditry before the course, but the university work gave him "experience of the nuts and bolts of what sports journalism is, particularly writing".

Alex Scott, pictured during the semi final against Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup, also graduated from the university

Alex Scott, 30, who was in the England Women's squad which achieved a third-placed finish at the Women's World Cup, also achieved a BA (Hons) on the same course.

The Arsenal Ladies full back was not able to attend the graduation ceremony because the players were meeting the Duke of Cambridge.

Mr Bayley said: "[The media is] something she's set her heart on when her playing days are over. By her own admission the coaching of the game doesn't appeal as much as the media does.

"It's not easy doing another full-time job (playing football) but she still finds time for the studies."