Dean Windass has admitted he recently attempted suicide after
battling with depression following the end of his playing
career.
Dean Windass: Hit rock-bottom
Windass, who fired hometown club Hull into the Premier
League with a stunning winner in the 2008 play-off final, ended his
playing days last year at the age of 42.
He has also worked as a pundit on Sky Sports News Radio
but the well-travelled striker has revealed to The People
the extent of his problems.
He told the newspaper: "I have cried every day for the last two
years since retiring. People outside football think we have it all.
But I was in a hole that I honestly didn't know how to get out
of.
"Just over a week ago I hit rock-bottom and decided to end it
all.
"I first took an overdose and when that didn't work tried to
hang myself. I felt so alone and believed I had nothing to live
for.
"I need to sort myself out which is why I'm speaking out
now.
He added: "People have this image of me as this big strong man
who can take anything life throws at him. But I'm not ashamed to
say I wanted to end it after a string of setbacks."
"I knew I'd been a fool but I couldn't shake off the depression
at feeling what a failure I'd become."
Windass, whose previous teams include Aberdeen, Bradford,
Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, called on the Professional
Footballers' Association to do everything in their power to help
people with similar problems in the future
"We're not the brightest but you play football all your life,"
he said.
"There are hundreds of footballers in the same boat (after
retirement). There is nothing to get up for in the morning.
"The Professional Footballers' Association or the governing body
need to help us."