``His condition is satisfactory,'' a short statement issued by Ipswich hospital in Eastern England said yesterday. It said Ramsey, 78, was admitted to hospital on June 9 following a ``small haemorrhage on the surface of his brain.''

Ramsey, who played 31 times for England before going on to manage the National team from 1963 to 1974, was not seeing visitors except his wife and family, the hospital said. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1967, a year after guiding England to its first, and so far only, World Cup triumph.

Current England manager Glenn Hoddle, who like Ramsey used to play for London club Tottenham Hotspur, said everybody with the England team wished Sir Alf well. ``He has a special place in the history of English football.''