Arsenal legend Thierry Henry revealed his mental health struggles during his days as a player, relating to Bafana Bafana striker Lyle Foster. Check it out!
What's the story?
French football legend Thierry Henry made a startling revelation in a recent podcast, mentioning that he "must have been in depression" during his playing days.
Henry has been retired since 2015 and enjoyed a glittering career at both club and international football, winning the FIFA World Cup with France and gaining over 100 caps and breaking the goal scoring record, while also being Arsenal's all time top goal scorer.
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Let's take a closer look at what Henry had to say...
Henry opens up on depression
Legendary forward Thierry Henry discussed things that he's never spoken about publicly on the "Diary of a CEO" podcast with British entrepreneur, Steven Bartlett.
Henry, who won 14 trophies at Arsenal and FC Barcelona and scored more than 350 career goals at club level, says there was a period early in the lockdown enforced by the coronavirus pandemic, where he was crying almost every day.
"Throughout my career, and since I was born, I must have been in depression," said Henry.
"Did I know it? No. Did I do something about it? No. But I adapted to a certain way. That doesn't mean I'm walking straight, but I'm walking. You've got to put one foot [forward] and another one, and walk. That's what I've been told since I'm young," says the Frenchman who also mentioned that he grew with a father who was critical of his performances.
"When I was young I didn't see a lot of love, affection, hugging. My dad, the first time he took me into his arms said 'this baby will be an amazing football player. And from that moment, I was programmed to succeed. My dad took control of my body and it was tough," revealed Henry.
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In detailing his childhood trauma, Henry said his father was "very particular at times on how I was as a player," adding: "As a little boy it was always 'You didn't do that well.' So obviously when you hear that more often than not, that's what's going to stay."
The 46-year-old says his father first took him onto the pitch as a five/six-year-old, just to "strike the ball" and that from then onwards, it was a mission to fulfill his dad's dream and to please by becoming a footballer.
He recalled an occasion as a teenager when he scored all of the goals in a 6-0 win, only for his father to tell him he should not be happy because he still mis-controlled a ball and missed a pass.
It all came to a head for Henry during COVID-19 when: "I never stopped walking, then maybe I would have realised. [But during] Covid. I stopped walking. I couldn't. Then you start to realise."
"Then Covid happened. I was in isolation in Montreal, and not being able to see my kids for a year was tough," says Henry.
He mentioned that at that the time, he was "crying almost every day for no reason," stating: "Tears were coming alone. Why I don't know, but maybe they were there for a very long time. Technically, it wasn't me, it was the young me [crying for] everything he didn't get: approval."
Henry revealing his depression struggles as a player take us back to Lyle Foster, who was forced to take some time off late last year to deal with his mental health.
The Burnley striker has been on the comeback trail but will not be joining Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
His availability in the tournament has been a hot topic and it was recently discussed by English football pundits from ITV Studios.
Watch below:
There was an interesting debate at the @itvfootball studios tonight on Lyle Foster remaining at @BurnleyOfficial and not going to the AFCON with @BafanaBafana . pic.twitter.com/b4ua2o81d9
— Thabo Chauke (@TebooTouch) January 5, 2024
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