Pranav Nair
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney reveals he sought help for mental health issues
According to The Daily Mail, Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney, has revealed that he sought help for mental health issues he faced while as a player.
The Englishman is one of the greatest to ever don the jersey for both United and England. It is not easy to withstand the pressure of donning either of those jerseys let alone both. It would appear Rooney did not come out of the ordeal unscathed.
Now the manager at Derby County, the 35-year-old was speaking at the trailer for the documentary ‘Rooney’ that will be released on Amazon prime early next year.
In what can only be described as a glamorous career, Rooney has had his own share of ordeals. He gives a first peek at what he went through juggling responsibility as a leader and expectations as a superstar.
“It is about realising what was going through your head and trying to cope with the pressure of playing for Manchester United and trying to be successful — playing for your country, then captaining your country and taking a lot of that pressure on as well.”
Rooney has also had to undergo enormous expectations placed on him since his teenage years. Having made a name for himself at 16, he was a familiar sight to Premier League spectators by the time he was 17.
An industry fueled by strong emotions, sport can have its share of valleys and peaks. It is often ignored how players too go through the same emotions as the fans. Rooney admits that the lower moments in his career often saw him wanting to be left alone.
“Throughout a young sportsperson’s life, they go through difficult periods and there is a lot of me talking about moments where I was really down, I didn’t want to be around anyone.”
One such low point came in the 2006 FIFA World Cup where Rooney was sent off in the quarter-final against Portugal. While it can be argued that he was provoked by the opposition, his inexperience showed on the night. He admits to the dejection he felt at letting those back home down with his decision making.
It is not easy to come back from letting down your country at the biggest stage. Few like David Beckham or Rooney have had chances to redeem themselves.
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TV shows such as Ted Lasso and now the soon to be released Rooney documentary aim to give an idea of what mental health is like for those involved in sports. It is time that the conversation is made more mainstream and given its due importance.
