NEVER has Bill Shankly's flippant comment about football being more important than life or death been shown to be so utterly ridiculous.

The shocking passing of Phil O'Donnell on Saturday is desperately sad for everyone involved with Motherwell Football Club and the Scottish game.

Yet, it is an absolute tragedy for the wife and four young children to who this thoroughly decent and pleasant man was so devoted as well as his wider family.

The 35-year-old was a fine player who represented the Steelmen, his boyhood heroes Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and Scotland in a distinguished professional career of 18 years.

But the hundreds of tributes which have poured in to Fir Park in the hours since his death are testimony as much to the qualities of the man as the footballer.

Even those who had never heard of Phil or have seen him play have been moved by the appaling death of a young husband and father.

Still struggling to come to terms with an incomprehensible loss, a tearful Motherwell coach Mark McGhee tried to describe the man he knew yesterday.

Mark stated: "We are going to miss a guy who was, above all else, a fine man and a fantastic example to all of his colleagues."

The midfielder's career was plagued by serious injuries and he was always the first to admit he never quite fulfiled the potential he had displayed as a youngster.

After breaking into the Well team at the age of 17 in 1989 he went on to score in their famous Scottish Cup victory over Dundee United two years later.

The season after that historic triumph he picked up the Scottish Young Player of the Year award for his increasingly confident displays.

O'Donnell made his one and only appearance for his country at that time when he came on as a substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Switzerland at Pittodrie.

He was transferred to Celtic, the club he had supported growing up in Hamilton, in 1994 for a club record transfer fee of £1.75million that helped to finance the construction of a new South Stand.

At Parkhead he helped the Hoops to end an agonising seven-year trophy drought by beating Airdrie to lift the Scottish Cup in 1995.

He also played in season 1997/98 as Celtic ended Rangers' dominance of Scottish football and lifted the Premier League title.

He moved on to English Premiership club Sheffield Wednesday the following year and had high hopes for making an impact in a league he greatly admired.

However, he underwent no fewer than eight operations on his knee in four years down south and only made 20 first team appearances.

However, Phil, unlike many of the promising talents in this country who fail to live up to early expectations, was never bitter about the course his career took.

Of course, he was handsomely remunerated for his stints at Celtic and Sheffield. His priority in life, though, was always his family and not fame and fortune.

Of his time in England he once recalled: "It was difficult. But I have a young family and a great wife and that helped get me through the bad times. I had to support them so I didn't let myself get so down."

Phil certainly didn't consider himself too big a star to return to his former club Motherwell when his contract at Sheffield expired in 2003.

He was welcomed back to Fir Park in 2004 with open arms by supporters who remembered his earlier heroics and recognised somebody who came from the same area and background as them.

To play, as Phil did, for no fewer than seven years at any one club is increasingly rare in this day and age. The affection with which he was held by his side's supporters was down, in a large part, to his devotion.

Very much the elder statesman at Fir Park, Phil was the subject of much good-natured ribbing from his much younger team- mates.

Indeed, O'Donnell, who played alongside his nephew David Clarkson in the first team, was known simply as Uncle Phil to one and all at the SPL club.

After moving into coaching this year, he had become a father figure to many of the emerging talents at the Lanarkshire outfit. It was an area he looked to have a bright future in.

He was also a great ambassador for Motherwell and was always professional and courteous in his dealing with the media and general public.

Motherwell Football Club will miss an excellent player and great servant.

For his family though, and his children in particular, his death will be felt more deeply.