Paul McGrath opens up about his mental health battles - 'I have been through a lot but life is good'
The Aston Villa, Manchester United and Republic of Ireland legend is fronting a campaign to aid men's mental health.
by Garry Doyle · Irish MirrorFootie legend Paul McGrath says he is winning his battle against his mental health challenges after one of the toughest years of his life.
The much-loved 64-year-old has had previous problems with alcohol but is fighting fit and healthy again and has chosen to front a mental health campaign for November.
McGrath is the face of Pringles Movember campaign to get men talking about their mental health and yesterday he outlined his own issues in this department.
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Former Ireland great McGrath said: “I'm getting back to normal. I don't feel a little bit battered 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.”
A recent survey of retired footballers highlighted how over 90 per cent of them suffered from either depression, divorce or addiction in the years after hanging up their boots.
But McGrath believes the structures are being put in place now to help ex-pros adjust to the sporting afterlife, saying: “Footballers who are leaving the game tend to struggle. I wish things were better and wish people were able to get their feelings out there and not just bottle it up.
“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.”
McGrath found the lockdown period during Covid to be a tough period in his life.
He said: “I still don't know what Covid was about. Money was involved somehow. I worry about things that governments do... It could be done for good but sometimes it's done for bad reasons and stuff. But that has nothing to do with me. I just want to concentrate on my own mental health and the people I love and stuff like that. I keep it simple.”
And that is why he has toned down the comments he makes on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “I don’t like the bullying that goes on on it so I sometimes say things back to the bullies, forgetting they can answer me as well. I have had some people saying not so nice things and that but then again you have to watch out for your own mental health.”
The health of one of his first ever captains in professional football - Joey Malone - has not been good recently, something that saddens McGrath who fondly remembers how he and Malone used to patrol the midfield together with St Patrick’s Athletic.
Recently forced into hospital, Malone has gone through a tough period. “I haven't spoken to Joey for quite a while now but I had heard he wasn't well. Obviously Joey was a big part of my Pat's days so I wish him the best. Joey was a brilliant footballer, a huge influence on me and hopefully he gets better soon.”
McGrath also had kind words for Toto Schillaci, the former Italian forward, who scored the goal that knocked Ireland out of the 1990 World Cup and who died last week. “It was terribly sad news. Toto was a great striker, one of the best. He has left us too soon.”
This year's campaign builds on Pringles' ongoing commitment to supporting Movember, a partnership that began in 2020 for which Pringles has helped raise over €1M across Europe to help fund Movember’s vital mental health work.