Dele Alli opens up about ‘heartbreaking’ mental health battle that saw him consider retiring from football

Dele Alli, the renowned footballer who rose to fame at a young age, has recently admitted that he contemplated retiring from professional football at the age of 24 due to his mental health struggles. Alli gained popularity as a teenager playing for MK Dons and later became a prominent figure at Tottenham, winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award twice.

Unfortunately, his career took a downturn after the departure of Mauricio Pochettino as Spurs manager. When Jose Mourinho took over as Tottenham head coach in 2019, Alli’s performance suffered further. Following his move to Everton in 2022, Alli has struggled to regain his previous form, leading him to open up about the reasons behind his decline.

Alli revealed, during an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, that he reached a breaking point when Mourinho was his manager. He distinctly remembers a training session where he questioned his own ability and contemplated retirement. The fact that he had these thoughts at the young age of 24 deeply hurt him. Alli expressed the emotional burden he carried during that time.

Furthermore, Alli shared that he sought rehabilitation for his addiction to sleeping pills and the mental health issues he faced. He believes that this is not just his problem but a prevalent issue in football.

Alli acknowledged the effectiveness of sleeping pills in dealing with the demands of a football schedule but also pointed out the risks associated with abusing them. He discussed the damage it can cause when someone, like himself, uses them to numb emotions or escape from personal issues.

Throughout his interview, Alli also revealed details about his challenging childhood. However, he emphasized that his life took a positive turn after being adopted by an incredible family. Now, he wants to use his own experiences to help others who are struggling with similar problems.