Dakar Rally
Villas-Boas withdraws from Dakar Rally after being hospitalised
Andre Villas-Boas was hospitalised on Tuesday due to back pain sustained in an accident when the Overdrive Toyota driver hit a dune in Peru.
![Portuguese driver and former head coach of British football teams Chelsea and Tottenham, Andre Villas Boas is pictured after a press conference ahead of the 2018 Dakar Rally, which this year will thunder through Peru, Bolivia and Argentina from January 6 to 20. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/3KUIGDTBUFI6NAY7X4ZZAG7VWU.jpg?auth=fae4583d73149a50b584132d2645870d0d5a5cb918c2abeaf72870468e378d79&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
Andre Villas-Boas' Dakar Rally debut ended in the fourth stage after the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager was taken to hospital following a crash.
Dune accident ends Villas-Boas race
Villas-Boas was hospitalised on Tuesday due to back pain sustained in an accident when the Overdrive Toyota driver hit a dune during the San Juan de Marcona stage in Peru, according to reports.
![André Villas-Boas and co-pilot Ruben Faria prepare for the start of the Rally Dakar on Saturday 6 January 2018, in Lima (Peru).](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/6MAJTCYIP5N3FBEOYUIWTF3PRA.jpg?auth=f9077750ad7455a4863201b624d40611ae411d057c6f27d91376eb2894d1ba82&width=360)
"Andre was taken to the hospital with a back injury. It was unfortunate for Andre, who was making a very positive debut in the Dakar," Overdrive team director Jean-Marc Fortin was quoted as saying.
Villas Boas surprisingly turned his attention from football to motorsport and the Dakar Rally following his departure from Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG.
![Andre Villas Boas of Portugal and Overdrive Toyota and his co-driver Ruben Faria of Portugal climb back into their Toyota Overdrive car in the Classe : T1.1 : 4x4 Essence during stage four of the 2018 Dakar Rally, a loop stage to and from San Juan de Marcona on January 9, 2018.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/QRHBEMR6ZVPDXGENDKMPBEFMVM.jpg?auth=eebf3896f22cfc7ca46831ceea076cefa55e44c39b5d958bbd65286e1525031d&width=360)
The 40-year-old Portuguese head coach led SIPG to second in the CSL last season and the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in his first year in charge, before being replaced by countryman Vitor Pereira.