Former Ireland international Alan Moore has revealed he has battled with suicidal thoughts since he was 18.
The 44-year-old forged an enviable professional career in England where he played in the Premier League for Middlesbrough before spells at Barnsley and Burnely.
Moore later moved back to Dublin to play for Shelbourne and was part of the 2004 team that nearly reached the group stages of the Champions League.
But he admitted to BBC Radio Lanchashire this week that he couldn't see himself living to 23 when his mental health struggles began.
Moore said: "I've always been quiet, an over thinker, which doesn't help.
"And being alone when you've got problems you keep them to yourself.
"I've had suicidal thoughts from 18, 19, when I was younger. I wanted to just drive the car into walls. Straight into walls.
"It's in my head where I won't last until I'm 23. For some reason I had that age in my head."
He added that his internal struggles have continued since he retired from football and gone into coaching.
"It was only a couple of years ago when things escalated, a build up of stuff.
"You manage to have two faces - one for work and friends and then one that goes on with the issues."
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