Ex-Man City footballer, 22, opens up on his brave battle to play again after a thug stabbed him 32 times and left him for dead in a random attack
- Patrick Kubacak, 22, was left critically injured after being knifed in his head, face, scalp, neck, back, chest, torso and buttocks
- The 22-year-old who was backed by Jack Grealish had to undergo nine hours of surgery to save his life
- He has vowed to play again and has chronicled his fight for recovery on TikTok
A former Manchester City footballer who was left for dead after being stabbed by a complete stranger 32 times in a random attack is fighting to play soccer again.
Patrick Kubacak was left critically injured after being frenziedly knifed in his head, face, scalp, neck, back, chest, torso and buttocks by Michael Canning after passing him by pure chance in an alleyway in June last year.
The 22-year-old, a semi-professional development player at the Etihad who was backed by star striker Jack Grealish, had to undergo nine hours of surgery to save his life after his lungs, liver and other organs were damaged in the murderous assault.
After Canning was convicted of attempted murder and jailed for life, Kubacak vowed to play again and has chronicled his fight for recovery on TikTok under the heading: 'From not having a heartbeat and being stabbed 32 times to becoming the best footballer I can be.'
Pictures show him doing press ups, knee exercises and riding a Peloton exercise bike.
![Patrick Kubacak, 22, with Man City star striker Jack Grealish at the Etihad Stadium](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/10/80401743-13000329-image-a-1_1706093540440.jpg)
Patrick Kubacak, 22, with Man City star striker Jack Grealish at the Etihad Stadium
![Patrick was left critically injured after being frenziedly knifed in his head, face, scalp, neck, back, chest and torso](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/10/80401741-13000329-image-a-2_1706093675562.jpg)
Patrick was left critically injured after being frenziedly knifed in his head, face, scalp, neck, back, chest and torso
His part-time modeling career during which he did photo shoots for Nike was subsequently ruined due to his scarring and it was feared he would never play soccer again. He also had to give up his job as a sales assistant which he took on to top up his football and modeling income.
Kubacak, who was engaged to be married and has since become a father to a little boy with his fiancée, was walking home from work when the attack happened at 5.10pm on June 19 in Davyhulme.
He said of the attack: 'When I looked up at him, I could see he wasn't going to be satisfied unless I was dead.
'The force of the blows was very strong and eventually the blood started to flow from my mouth and I thought I was dying. I started praying and pretended to be dead.'
He added: 'Since the incident I've no longer been able to model as I could not cope with it especially if it was a topless shoot. I've been unable to play football as there are problems with my knees which I am paying to get better with private physio and I can't even work as a sales assistant as mentally I cannot cope with being out there in public as I am scared of who might be behind me.
'As a result of all this I am on statutory sick pay with a newborn baby and this is not how I envisaged my life.
'When I saw my injuries for the first time, I knew my modelling career was over. When I had to face the mirror during the X-ray, I asked if I could turn around as I could not look at myself due to the scarring.
'I was offered the chance to do a £3,000 photo shoot for Nike but I was asked to send a topless photo and as a result of my scars I was turned down as they wanted someone who has clear skin.
'I hate going out in public now and hate going to restaurants as I feel as though everyone is looking at me and my scars.
'At a baby shower I was put on a table in the middle of the restaurant and I hated every second I was in there as I wanted to be moved to another table which was less exposed. I felt I had to rush my food as I did not want to be there.
'At a sauna, I took my top off and as soon as I went to the pool area I felt the lifeguards' eyes on me - I felt like they were staring at me. I used to enjoy spa days but not anymore. Prior to this I was proud of how I looked but now I am the polar opposite and try my hardest to keep fully clothed and I wear a hat now low down as I feel so self conscious.
![Patrick had to undergo nine hours of surgery to save his life after his lungs, liver and other organs were damaged](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/12/80401793-13000329-Patrick_had_to_undergo_nine_hours_of_surgery_to_save_his_life_af-m-25_1706098398850.jpg)
Patrick had to undergo nine hours of surgery to save his life after his lungs, liver and other organs were damaged
![Patrick with his fiancée Jade Stedford](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/12/80404383-13000329-Patrick_with_his_fianc_e_Jade_Stedford-m-24_1706098382957.jpg)
Patrick with his fiancée Jade Stedford
'I used to be such a confident person - now I hate being around people and would rather be at home rather than have people staring at me.'
Prosecutor Helen Longworth said: 'He called his fiancée on the way to say he was stopping for some sweets so they could watch a movie that evening. He went down the alleyway and saw someone go passed him but as he did so was grabbed in a chokehold and then felt himself being stabbed in a frenzied attack.
'Patrick went to the ground after two or three blows but the defendant did not stop and the stabbing continued. The victim could not count the blows as there were so many but he though 32 stabbing wounds.
'He described his lungs getting tighter and smaller and he chose to pretend he was dead by closing his eyes.
'He was helped by people living nearby who heard his screams and they contacted his fiancée who was pregnant at the time. She recalls hugging him and her white top turning red with his blood.'
![Patrick has pictured his recovery journey on TikTok with the caption: 'From not having a heartbeat and being stabbed 32 times to becoming the best footballer I can be.'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/12/80401807-13000329-Patrick_has_pictured_his_recovery_journey_on_TikTok_with_the_cap-a-33_1706098482431.jpg)
![Pictures show Patrick doing press ups, knee exercises and riding a Peloton exercise bike](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/12/80401801-13000329-Pictures_show_Patrick_doing_press_ups_knee_exercises_and_riding_-m-32_1706098474037.jpg)
Patrick has pictured his recovery journey on TikTok with the caption: 'From not having a heartbeat and being stabbed 32 times to becoming the best footballer I can be.'
![Patrick has vowed to play football again after his attacker Michael Canning was jailed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/12/80401739-13000329-Patrick_has_vowed_to_play_football_again_after_his_attacker_Mich-m-36_1706098520975.jpg)
Patrick has vowed to play football again after his attacker Michael Canning was jailed
At Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday, Patrick's ordeal was laid bare as Canning, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum 20 years behind bars after he was convicted of attempted murder.
As the guilty verdict was returned, Canning hammered on the screen of the dock in a fit of rage and screamed abuse at jurors leaving several in distress.
The court heard the would-be killer, from Davyhulme, Greater Manchester had a history of knife crime, was diagnosed with a psychotic mental disorder caused by his habitual use of cannabis and cocaine and had developed a 'hostile view towards the world in general.'
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Canning removed his distinctive high visibility jacket before fleeing back home dressed all in black and wearing gloves, hood and a surgical mask to disguise himself.
He washed his blood spattered clothing in white spirit before dumping them in a bin liner. He was arrested three days later after police used CCTV cameras to trace the knifeman back him to his home. He denied being involved in the attack.
The court heard Canning had been admitted hospital in the run up to the stabbing after developing 'negative thoughts' about killing himself, his mother and his brother.
![Michael Canning was jailed at Manchester Crown Court earlier this week](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/12/80401765-13000329-Michael_Canning_was_jailed_at_Manchester_Crown_Court_earlier_thi-m-35_1706098499524.jpg)
Michael Canning was jailed at Manchester Crown Court earlier this week
He was convicted of GBH in 2015 when he was a 15-year old schoolboy after stabbing a fellow pupil in the neck with a pair of scissors following a playground dispute. He was also cautioned in 2017 for attending a sixth form college armed with a combat knife.
Sentencing Judge Hilary Manley told Canning: 'I am wholly satisfied your purpose and intention was to kill the first person who walked into that alleyway. In the space of just under one minute, your victim's life was almost taken from him completely, and it has certainly been changed forever. No words were exchanged between you. He was a complete stranger to you and you to him.
'You used over-arm downward motions, each one deliberately using full strength and power and designed to inflict the gravest possible wounds. It is nothing short of a miracle that your victim survived.
'Patrick was an active, outgoing and confident 22 year old - all that has changed. Physically his extensive and permanent scarring means that the aesthetic work he used to do is now closed to him, whilst the muscle loss and neuromuscular damage has curtailed the football area.
'Psychologically his understandable fear of, and sometimes panic at being in public places has brought to an end his ability to work in retail sales. His relationship with his partner has been very severely affected and his personality has changed drastically.
'A once-confident and outgoing young man is now depressed, quiet, anxious and unable to join in what were previously routine and pleasant family activities.'
Patrick's fiancée Jade Stedford said in a statement: 'This attack has had a serious effect on our relationship. We cannot go out socially or conduct normal family business without him panicking and constantly looking round to make sure we are not being observed.
''Even when doing simple task like cooking, Patrick becomes nervous when he sees a knife and he hates the sight of it. He shuts down and has become really depressed and numb and this has put a strain on us. He used to be so confident - now he wont even taker his top off. I just wish life could return to normal.'