FORMER SCOTLAND international Kevin McNaughton has bravely opened up on his battle with depression.
The ex-Aberdeen star has spoken candidly about how his life “slowly disintegrated” after retirement and admitted he wasn’t ready for life after football.
SKY SPORTS NEWSMcNaughton has opened up on his depression agony[/caption]
McNaughton, 40, enjoyed a successful career that lasted nearly two decades.
He made over 200 appearances for Aberdeen, before going on to become a Cardiff City legend in a near decade-long spell with the Welsh club, a spell that included a spell in the English Premier League.
McNaughton, capped four times by Scotland, announced his retirement in 2017 after short spells with Wigan Athletic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, although he did return to play for Forfar a short time after.
But he’s admitted that he struggled when his time at the top level of the game came to an end.
And in January last year, McNaughton sparked fears for his wellbeing after posting a series of concerning tweets.
One read: “Let my kids know I’ll hover above, I’ll always love them they’re too good for me.”
The former defender was reported missing and there was an outpouring of support on social media, from friends, colleagues, former teammates and the wider public.
McNaughton was soon located safe.
A year on, he’s opened up on that difficult period in a frank interview with Sky Sports News.
He revealed how he reached “rock bottom” in the lead-up to the moment where he sent out the worrying tweets.
McNaughton told Sky: “Looking back, I can’t actually remember sending them. I’d taken quite a lot of the medication I was on and with alcohol, I was a mess really.
“I was lucky enough that I did probably send them out. It was maybe a cry for help. I had got to that sort of stage of rock bottom, I think.
“The police found us with my medication and alcohol. They could see I was in a state really, to be honest with you.”
Describing the moment, he added: “I booked myself into a hotel room. I actually had all my stuff from moving out the house, most of my belongings were in my car. I started drinking and I was on medication at the time for depression, my anxiety as well was going through the roof at that stage. So I wasn’t in a great way.
“On top of drinking with the medication, things like that, I got myself into a bit of a mess.
“I went to get my car and my car wasn’t there and it had all my belongings in it. I think that was the final straw really that sort of tipped us over the edge.
“I went back up to the room started drinking again, which is not the answer. I ended up sending out tweets and I can’t really remember too much about it to be honest with you. I think if I never did that I’m not sure what would’ve happened.”
McNaughton revealed how he struggled to adjust to life after football and how his retirement from playing contributed.
However, he was also taken aback by the level of support he received from the footballing community as a whole following the Tweets.
He added: “I just got myself in a bit of a mess really, which stemmed from not really being prepared for life after football.
“My life had slowly sort of disintegrated after I stopped playing football. My relationship sort of fell to pieces and then off the back of that, I probably isolated myself a bit as well when I should have really been speaking to other people and getting help.
“Looking back, that was obviously a mistake. It was a difficult time.
“It’s difficult when you leave football. I found myself a bit lost really in terms of trying to find your place again. You feel you have a sense of purpose coming into the changing room every day and you’ve got a goal to achieve at the end of the week. You do miss that.
“The one thing I’d say is plan ahead for what you’re going to do when you finish football and work at it while you’re playing.
“It was probably a shot in the arm from all the support I got. That probably helped us through the first few weeks of trying to get myself back on the right track. I was taken aback when I saw everything.
“I didn’t really see really up until a day or two later when I switched my phone back on, it was non stop really. There was a lot from strangers. Rugby players I’ve never met before, Colin Hendry, Rab Douglas, guys like that.
“I’ve never spent a lot of time with them but they were willing to speak to me. Some guys said they’d gone through similar things, well known footballers who had basically gone through the same thing. It was reassuring to hear things like that and see where they are in their lives.”
Scottish News and SportMcNaughton was capped by Scotland on four occasions[/caption]
He reached the English Premier League with Cardiff CityPA:Press Association
SKY SPORTS NEWSMcNaughton is now boss at Dundee North End[/caption]
A year on, McNaughton finds himself in a better place.
He’s back in football and back in Scotland, as manager of junior club Dundee North End.
Away from the pitch, things are happier for McNaughton too, as he revealed he’s got engaged.
He added: “My aim now is coaching, develop my coaching skills and try to get better at coaching. An opportunity came up at a junior club, Dundee North End, and its been really enjoyable since.
“My life then to where it is now, it’s changed a lot. I got engaged a few months back, I’ve got that to look forward to.
“I’ve got a future now when it didn’t seem like there was one, or one possible, back then.
“You’ve just got to get through those difficult periods. There’s still a lot to live for and certainly in my case I’ve had some of the best days since then.”
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others…You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: