Edoardo Bove received a round of applause from the Watford dressing room after making a return to competitive football 14 months after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch.
Bove appeared as a substitute after 86 minutes and was visibly emotional after the game, climbing up to greet his loved ones in the stands.
Edoardo Bove looks emotional as he greets his family after returning to competitive football. #watfordfc pic.twitter.com/7uZyIE7TyB
— Adam Drury (@Adam_Drury1) February 14, 2026
The Italian was lucky to live after the collapse while playing for Fiorentina against Inter Milan in December 2024.
After months of physical and psychological work, he is a professional footballer again – and his head coach Ed Still revealed the Watford players and staff marked the moment afterwards.
Still said: "He got a massive round of applause in the dressing room because everybody realises what he's been through.
"Hats off to him. What he's had to deal with away from the pitch and away from football, to come back in the frame of mind he's in is brilliant."
Bove shared a moment with several of his team-mates and coaches on the pitch at full-time, before hurrying to embrace his family.
He was then FaceTiming others of his nearest and dearest pitchside at Deepdale, after completing a warm down with the other Watford subs.
"It's a very good feeling, feeling the pitch again." 🫶
Edoardo Bove opens up about making his return to football after collapsing on the pitch in the Fiorentina vs. Inter match on December 1, 2024. pic.twitter.com/vPRpyF4VfF— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 14, 2026
The Italian told CBS Sport: "It's a very good feeling to be on the pitch again.
"I'm a little bit disappointed with the result because I think we deserved to win but it's a good emotion to be back on the pithc.
"I have to say thanks to the staff and the team-mates who gave me the possibility to adapt to this kind of football and I appreciate the work to get me on the pitch as soon as possible.
"I'm really grateful to the club and really happy to be here."
Bove, who has been fitted with a defibrillator in his chest, is said to have shone in training and will be pushing for more minutes when Derby County visit Vicarage Road next Saturday.
Having made his Watford debut today, though, he can already claim to have achieved something extraordinary.
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