More than a quarter of professional footballers suffer from depression or anxiety problems, according to a new study carried out by the international players' union FIFPro.
The research shows that 26 percent of players reported mental health problems, with that figure rising to 39 per cent among retired players.
FIFPro's study of 180 current players in six countries -- Scotland, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand -- showed that seven percent smoke, while 19 percent reported "adverse alcohol behaviour."
FIFPro's chief medical officer Dr Vincent Gouttebarge said: "Contrary to popular belief, the life of a professional footballer has some dark sides.
"Former professional footballers report more mental health problems than current players, endorsing that the period just after retirement from professional football is a critical one for many players.
"We found mental illness among former professional footballers occurs more often than in other measured populations.''
Stan Collymore, Paul Gascoigne, Niall Quinn and Michael Johnson have spoken in the past of their battles against depression, while former Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke committed suicide in 2009 while suffering from depression.
In this latest study, former New Zealand captain Chris Jackson, who played schoolboy football with Wimbledon, said his disappointment at not making it into European football let to depression which set him on a path of drug and alcohol abuse.
Jackson, 43, who now works as a cleaner at a university, told FIFPro: "Before international games I would be taking drugs and partying with friends. Then days later I was trying to mark Lothar Matthaus or Ronaldinho.''
"I had and still have a lot of anxiety regarding performance. The pressure bottled up for years particularly when I captained different teams and had to be the face of the team when going through tough times. It was coupled with depression as well.
"I often went inside myself and only found release by going crazy on drugs and alcohol, until I realised I was on the verge of being addicted to drugs and getting wasted.''
Former U.S. international goalkeeper Jonny Walker, 39, spoke of the difficulties in leaving the professional game behind after retiring.
"One day you are on the pitch in front of 60,000 to 80,000 people," he said. "You are playing for your national team. You are doing interviews. Everybody is watching you.
"The next day it all stops. You are nothing any more. Nobody talks about you. Here today, gone tomorrow."
Information from the Press Association was used in this article.
Soccer Hot News
Rodgers backs fearless Liverpool
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has seen ‘no anxiety, no pressure’ in his side as they continue their Premier League title charge.
Questions remain over whether Liverpool have the experience to close out the league, one they top by two points late in the campaign.
Rodgers said his confident team were coached to deal with pressure and believes the mix in the squad works in their favour.
“If you ask players to play as we do, you have to give them the confidence. That is what you want – the courage to play,” the Northern Irishman said.
“We work to deal with pressure, to get on the ball. The players know 100 per cent that if they make a mistake, I will take the blame.
“I have said all along I feel that when there are pressure situations, the players can cope… they can operate at this level without any fear. You see the confidence, there is no anxiety, no pressure.
“We have a wonderful mix. World-class players, young talents from Europe and South America and a load of young British talent here who show that, technically, they can play without fear.”
Rodgers’ side travel to West Ham on Sunday looking for their ninth straight Premier League win.
Liverpool’s last league title came in 1990, and Rodgers said his team were not getting carried away despite dreams of lifting the trophy.
“We never get too carried away. It is very difficult, there’s lots of people now dreaming about Liverpool winning the title,” he said.
“But for me it is installing in the players that there’s a process, it’s not just about the end result.
“It’s been about simple hard work and focus and concentration.
“There are only 18 points to play for, but you can only take three at a time – Upton Park will be a tough game for us but our confidence and belief is at a good level.
“We feel that we can win any game, because we are a team.
“We may not have the best group of individuals but we have a lot of hunger in a team.”
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