Former Liverpool and England footballer Danny Murphy has opened up about his use of cocaine after retiring from the game.
The 47-year-old loved a profitable profession with the Reds, profitable the FA Cup and UEFA Cup, earlier than enjoying for Fulham and Tottenham.
The midfielder retired in 2013, having made a complete of 417 Premier League appearances, and mentioned he then struggled dwelling with out soccer.
After shedding the “adrenaline” of enjoying the game on the highest stage, he informed the Ben Heath Podcast that issues grew to become “enormous” and he turned to medicine for “escapism”.
“How do I take care of issues after I have not obtained soccer? As a result of issues whenever you play soccer aren’t issues,” he mentioned, referring to points corresponding to payments and relationships.
Danny Murphy (centre) performed for Liverpool for seven years. Pic: PA
“You have obtained the enjoyment and adrenaline to maintain you forward-thinking and energetic,” he mentioned.
The ex-pro added: “Once you’ve obtained points, with out soccer these points turn into enormous, they’re like mountains.
“Once you have been enjoying they have been high-quality, since you had funds coming in, you additionally had help from everybody and anybody.”
He mentioned that whereas he didn’t turn into an alcoholic, he had a nasty 12 months with medicine.
“I had a spell on cocaine and smoking some weed, and the drink… I might dwell with out it,” he mentioned.
Pic: PA
He mentioned he was hooked on cocaine “for some time”, including: “I obtained to the purpose the place I did not assume I might do issues with out it, which was nonsense, in fact I might.”
Murphy now works as a daily pundit for BBC Sport, together with on highlights present Match Of The Day.
He mentioned his media work had helped however didn’t give him the identical “excessive” as enjoying skilled soccer.
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Murphy additionally mentioned he was “amazed” by the variety of ex-players who’ve reached out to him with their very own struggles after retiring from the sport.
He mentioned remedy helped him to beat his habit and believes his experiences had made him a greater son, father and associate.
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“Remedy was good… you have to be ready to go deep and never everyone seems to be, as a result of you have to be in for an emotional rollercoaster in remedy,” he mentioned.
Murphy added that after “a 12 months of being in a world of ache”, he now realised how fortunate he was to not have suffered for longer after talking with others who had additionally struggled with drug addictions.
