Unknown England player signs for Saints under Koeman

Steven Caulker: The Struggles of a Premier League Footballer

Steven Caulker, a former Tottenham and Liverpool defender, has recently opened up about his struggles with addiction during his playing career. Caulker, who made one appearance for England and scored on his debut, revealed how he once blew £250,000 the day before playing a Premier League game against Arsenal. In this article, we will delve deeper into Caulker’s journey and how his struggles with addiction led to him having a journeyman career.

Caulker’s Journey

The defender broke through at Tottenham aged 21 and made 29 appearances for the club. From there, he had stints at Cardiff, QPR, and Southampton, as well as becoming one of Klopp’s first signings when he joined Liverpool on loan. His struggles with gambling and substance abuse meant he found himself unemployed aged 26 before joining Dundee after he called them to request a trial.

Since then, he has gone on to play for several Turkish sides before joining Wigan in January. During his spell in Turkey, Caulker spoke openly about his struggles with mental illness and addiction with The Guardian. He has since been following a 12-step recovery program to help tackle his addiction issues.

Gambling Addiction

In a podcast with Under The Cosh, Caulker revealed that while he was playing for QPR, he became a regular at casinos. On losing £250k the day before he was set to play Arsenal, Caulker said: “That night I’d done five casinos and did £250k. Then a day later we were playing Arsenal.”

Caulker’s addiction to gambling led to him losing a significant amount of money, which affected his performance on the pitch. He was unable to focus on the game and ended up losing the match against Arsenal. This incident highlights the dangers of gambling addiction and how it can affect a player’s performance.

Substance Abuse

Caulker also struggled with substance abuse during his playing career. He revealed that when his agent called to say Liverpool wanted to sign him, he was drunk in a Dublin hotel room after a night out. He said: “I was out the squad at Southampton, so I went to Dublin for a piss up. I was there off my head, still in my clothes, had two missed calls from my agent, and I was thinking f****** hell. Pick up the phone and my agent said you’ll never guess what, Liverpool want to sign you.”

Caulker’s addiction to alcohol affected his career and led to him being out of the Southampton team after being displaced by Virgil Van Dijk and Jose Fonte. He said the spell on the sidelines saw him spiral into an alcohol addiction.

Impact on Career

Caulker’s struggles with addiction had a significant impact on his career. He found himself unemployed at the age of 26 and had to join Dundee after he called them to request a trial. His addiction to gambling and substance abuse affected his performance on the pitch, and he was unable to focus on the game.

Caulker’s journey highlights the importance of mental health in football. Addiction is a serious issue that affects many players, and it is essential to provide support and help for those who are struggling. Caulker’s decision to follow a 12-step recovery program is a positive step towards overcoming his addiction issues.

Conclusion

Steven Caulker’s struggles with addiction during his playing career highlight the dangers of gambling and substance abuse in football. His journey highlights the importance of mental health in football and the need for support and help for those who are struggling. Caulker’s decision to follow a 12-step recovery program is a positive step towards overcoming his addiction issues. It is essential to raise awareness about addiction in football and provide support for those who are struggling.