Fabrice Muamba wept as he addressed the crowd at White Hart Lane -- the English soccer ground where he collapsed due to cardiac arrest during a match in March.
(CNN) -- Soccer player Fabrice Muamba has made an emotional first return to the ground where he suffered a career-ending heart seizure in March.
The 24-year-old wiped away tears after being allowed to address the fans at Tottenham's White Hart Lane during the English team's European match on Thursday.
At halftime, Muamba came onto the same pitch where he collapsed while playing for his former club Bolton eight months ago -- his heart stopped for 78 minutes but he was resuscitated and later made a remarkable recovery in hospital.
However, the Zaire-born England under-21 international was unable to resume his playing career and he officially quit the game in August.
"I can't express... All I can say is thanks to the Tottenham fans for the way they reacted," said Muamba, who had earlier been at London's O2 Arena to watch tennis star Roger Federer in action.
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Bolton player Fabrice Muamba lies prone on the pitch after collapsing before halftime during the English FA Cup quarterfinal away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
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"There are people out there who prayed for me. I want to thank the chairman, and to all the Spurs fans. I am grateful to them. They are awesome fans.
"Today I wanted to visit that place one more time for closure."
Before Thursday's Europa League match against Maribor, Tottenham's website hailed Muamba as an "inspiration" and referred to his work with the "Hearts & Goals" campaign -- which aims to give communities across the UK access to 500 new defibrillators, as well as training.
"Amazing day at WHL tonight. Thank you guys for everythings spurs fans tonight were awesome. Thank you," Muamba wrote on Twitter -- the web platform where his then fiancee and now wife Shauna kept fans around the world updated about his recovery.
"So proud of my husband @fmuamba for his fighting spirit and courage. Also proud of the humanity in the UK the support has been amazing," she wrote on Thursday after the match.
He earlier revealed: "Off to white hart lane, for the first time the incident happen. I am so nervous is unreal. Hope spurs win tonight."
Muamba got his wish, as Tottenham beat Slovenian side Maribor 3-1 to bounce back from two Premier League defeats and boost the club's hopes of progressing in the second-tier European competition.
Muamba's longtime friend, England international striker Jermain Defoe, scored all three goals for Tottenham to put the club second in Group J behind Italian side Lazio -- which also won, 3-0 against Greece's Panathinaikos.
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas was not in charge when Muamba collapsed, but he welcomed the former Birmingham and Arsenal player in his prematch program notes.
"What happened to Fabrice at this stadium eight months ago has obviously changed his life forever," Villas-Boas wrote.
"Everyone in the game and the wider footballing world was delighted to see him make a full recovery. We are thrilled to have him here tonight and I would like to wish him the very best for the future."
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His collapse while playing for Bolton in an FA Cup match against Tottenham was seen by a worldwide television audience -- and the cameras were there again on his first return to the London stadium.
Before attending the Europa League match, Muamba had been at London's O2 Arena to watch tennis star Roger Federer at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Muamba announced his retirement from football in August, but the following month he attended a match played by his former club Bolton, which has dropped into the second division.
Muamba took part in the Olympic torch relay for the London 2012 Games. Here he lights the cauldron on day 64 of the flame's 8,000-mile journey around the UK.
In May, he and his now wife Shauna were guests at the FA Cup final, which was won by Chelsea.
In March his life was saved by cardiologist Andrew Deaner, a Tottenham fan who came out of the crowd to help with his resuscitation.
Muamba collapsed before halftime and the match was abandoned as he was taken to hospital after receiving several defribillator shocks to restart his heart, which stopped for 78 minutes. He was discharged only a month later after making a remarkably quick recovery.
Players from both teams, as well as Bolton manager Owen Coyle, far right, watch as the England under-21 international is treated by medics.
Tottenham's Rafael Van der Vaart was one of many players who offered their support for Muamba via micro-blogging website Twitter.
The 23-year-old was carried off the pitch at White Hart Lane and taken to a hospital in London. The game was abandoned.
Muamba has been at the Premier League club since 2008, when he signed in an $8 million transfer from English rivals Birmingham.
Muamba made his name at Birmingham City, where he made a permanent move in 2007 after impressing while on loan from English Premier League club Arsenal.
Muamba came to England in 1999 after his family left his homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo. He represented his adopted country at under-21 level at the 2009 European Championship.
Muamba had limited first-team opportunities at Arsenal, but appeared in a League Cup match against Reading in November 2005.
Bolton announced Thursday they will fulfill their Premier League fixture with local rivals Blackburn on Saturday after postponing the midweek clash with Aston Villa. Before Blackburn's win over Sunderland on Wednesday their players offered messages of support for Muamba.
Bolton Wanderers fans have left flowers and scarves outside the English club's Reebok Stadium in support of Muamba, while most of the playing squad have been to visit him in the London Chest Hospital.
Muamba's former teammate Gary Cahill, who left Bolton to join Chelsea in January, revealed a t-shirt honoring his ex-colleague after scoring against Leicester City on Sunday.
Fans at Liverpool's FA Cup quarterfinal against Stoke City send their best wishes to Muamba. Supporters also chanted his name at various points during Sunday's Anfield match.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle (left) and chairman Phil Gartside outside the London Chest Hospital where Muamba is being treated.
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