Chester-born midfielder Danny Murphy, who moved to Liverpool from Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 1997, played a total of 249 games for Anfield, scoring 44 goals and providing 39 assists, an impressive figure.
He has also played for England, although less than 10 games, and since leaving Liverpool in 2004 he has played for Charlton, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Blackburn, before deciding to retire from active football in 2013 and subsequently turning his attention to television as a commentator.
He is now 47 years old. Now 47, the former England midfielder is a frequent media pundit and has now made a shocking admission.
He revealed that he had become addicted to drugs and alcohol shortly after leaving football, and that he had struggled to make the transition from his adrenaline-fuelled life.
“When you don’t have football, problems become huge,”
“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.”
“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.”
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