Danny Murphy admits cocaine addiction

Murphy is one of the few commentators I don’t mute.



Danny Murphy: Former Liverpool and England midfielder became addicted to cocaine after retirement
Former England midfielder Danny Murphy says he became addicted to cocaine after his playing career ended.

Murphy played for Crewe Alexandra, Liverpool, Charlton Athletic, Tottenham, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers before retiring in 2013.

He has since moved into punditry and works for BBC Sport as well as other outlets, including Talksport.

"When you don't have football, problems become huge," 47-year-old Murphy told the Ben Heath Podcast.

"When you play football, the adrenaline and dopamine, all these things keep you forward-thinking and energetic.

"I had a spell on cocaine and smoking some weed. The drink, I could live without it. I wasn't an alcoholic. I could sit in a house with alcohol and not drink it."

Asked if he was addicted to cocaine, Murphy said: "For a while I was. I got to the point where I thought I couldn't do things without it. Which was nonsense, of course I could.

"You manage it initially, you might do it once a week, twice a week, give yourself an extra third day. Eventually it builds up and grabs hold of you."

But he said he found support and therapy helped him tackle his issues.

Having started his career with Crewe Alexandra, Murphy joined Liverpool in 1997.

He spent seven years at Anfield and was part of the squad that won the FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup in 2001.

Murphy earned his nine England caps while he was with Liverpool.

A spell with Charlton Athletic followed, before he left The Valley to join Tottenham Hotspur in January 2006.

He moved across London to Fulham and helped them to the Europa League final in 2010 and ended his career after a spell at Blackburn.

Murphy said he "had a year of being in a world of pain" after finishing his career but "that year to 18 months from 2017" had given him "a desire to be better that I didn't have before".

He added that he believed it was common for former players to have similar issues to him and that he was "amazed" how many had reached out to him.

Dr Michael Bennett, director of player wellbeing at the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), said the union "regularly supports" members who have developed addictions when Everton midfielder Dele Alli spoke of his sleeping pill addiction.

Former Liverpool and Coventry City goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has also talked about being addicted to painkillers for the best part of a decade.

"I've had some real depths of despair," said Murphy. "There's a lot more help out there now.

"I think there is more, but you can never get a failsafe system.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68776358

 

Glad to hear he has found some help after his career ended a lot of players struggle, considering the life experience of modern footballers, being pampered, spoiled and fortune, suddenly finding themselves at a loss of what the next chapter in life brings...

But then again when Murphy was al Liverpool, it's not like he would've been having a bit of a 'party' problem even during their playing days, nevermind after it...

 

Think a lot of footballers need to grow the * up.

They are so far removed from normal life it's unreal. Up there with the royals.

Cocaine, gambling, alcohol, women etc. You've literally got the world at your feet with money made. And they don't know how to handle it.

Hate footballers. Love the sport (at times).

 

Total *. Never a good word to say about us and one of the worst analysts on the box.

 

Always thought the same..

A proper wee gimp as well. Seen him cutting about Oxford Street months ago and I remember thinking this guys a melt..

 

Well if that helps someone realise they have a problem or get off it then that’s good,don’t take too much to do with English fitba but more power to him.

 

A negative, quare, sour * who seems bitter as *. Guaranteed hun-sympathiser.

 

Bet he wisnae giving it the poor ol' me act when he was face deep in some of Liverpool's best ching...

 

At least until he needed to pay the tick bill, 20 year football earnings not lasting long

It’s rife amongst players, was when I used to be in the town places players were anyway, chewing their faces off

Had a cousin who was a manager in a dancing players were always in, they’d get lock ins regularly money they spent, there’s ones he’s caught that I’d have never have suspected and this was my early 20’s