Clarke on his struggles and destructive drinking habits

Former Leeds United footballer Clarke Carlisle has spoken of how he “sat on a futon and drank myself into oblivion”.

- by Nicola Adam

Carlisle, 46, played for Queens Park Rangers, Leeds United and Burnley during a professional football career which spanned 17 years.

The defender later became chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association, but struggled with alcoholism and gambling and made two attempts on his life over a 13-year period.

Speaking on podcast episode Listen Up, made by Abbeycare, one of the UK's leading residential rehabilitation centres, he said as a child he was “anchored in external validation” from his father, and later depended on approval from managers and fans, using alcohol as a release.

Carlisle attended a rehab session at St Mirren FC’s stadium in Paisley, near Glasgow, and spoke on the podcast while visiting Scotland.