Well-travelled striker Dean Windass has admitted he recently attempted suicide after battling with depression when he finished his playing career.
Windass, who fired home town club Hull into the Premier League with a stunning winner in the 2008 play-off final, retired from the game last year at the age of 42.
He has also worked as a television pundit but the former Bradford player has now revealed the extent of his problems in an interview with The People.
"I have cried every day for the last two years since retiring. People outside football think we have it all," he told the newspaper.
"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.
"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."
Fellow professional footballer and Wales manager Gary Speed committed suicide last month.
Sam Hughes
