“I’m coming out of it now” – Paul McGrath opens up on years of mental health struggles

The former Manchester United defender is fronting a campaign to improve men's mental health.

The 64-year-old ex-footballer had problems with alcohol during his playing career, a silent struggle many players shared given the drinking culture in football at the time.

Seventeen years after retiring from professional football, the Dubliner has teamed up with Pringles Movember campaign to get men talking about their mental health and yesterday he outlined his own issues in this department.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, McGrath said: "Men’s mental health, it’s something as fellas, we don’t talk about how we’re feeling too much. So I thought this would be a good thing to get involved in.

"I’m getting back to normal. I don’t feel a little battered or anything like that, but I feel like I’ve been through quite a bit in the last couple of years and especially in the last year. But I’m coming out of it now and trying to start just getting back out into the public and doing one or two things, so it’s good.

"I think footballers who are leaving the game struggle. I wish people were able to talk to people to get their feelings out there and not just bottle it up. Especially in my case, it was with alcohol and stuff like that. So yeah, it’d be nice [for footballers in my time] to be able to talk to someone, explain you’re feeling a certain way and ease your track to civilian life again."

He continued: "We have seen over the years when players get to the age of 32-33, they just start struggling, especially in my case with alcohol and stuff like that. So it'd be nice to be able to talk to someone or go to someone and just explain you're feeling a certain way and ease your track to civilian life again.

"One of the things that has helped me is age. Some time ago, I wasn't well. But everything's getting better now."