Ex-Arsenal and Barcelona forward Thierry Henry has opened up about his battle with depression.
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Widely considered as arguably the greatest Premier League player of all time, Henry, at his peak, epitomised poise, style and confidence.
His eight-year spell at Arsenal between 1999 and 2007 saw him become one of the best players to watch in England, though his upbringing has left him with some emotional scars he is still dealing with today. In a recent interview, the 1998 FIFA World Cup winner admitted to often burying his true feelings during his playing days.
“Throughout my career, I must have been in depression,” he said on the Diary of a CEO podcast.
“Did I know it? No. Did I do something about it? Obviously no. But I had adapted in a certain way. I was lying for a very long time because society wasn’t ready to hear what I had to say.”
The Frenchman then explained he started feeling vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying he would spend most days crying without understanding why.
“Everything came at once, especially during the Covid time,” the 46-year-old said.
“Covid happened and I asked ‘Why are you running, what are you doing?’ I was isolated and not being able to see my kids for a year was tough. I don’t even need to explain that one.
“Something like that had to happen to me to understand vulnerability, empathy, crying. Understand that emotions are emotions. Anger is normal but don’t become angry. Jealousy is normal but don’t become jealous.
“I was crying almost every day for no reason, tears were coming. I don’t know why but maybe they were waiting for a very long time. I don’t know whether that needed to come out. It was weird but in a good way. There was stuff I couldn’t control and I didn’t try to.
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“You have been told since you’re young, whether at home or in your job, ‘don’t be that guy, don’t show you’re vulnerable. If you cry, what are they going to think?’ I was crying but, technically, it was the young Thierry crying. He was crying for everything he didn’t get.”
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