England Star Danny Rose Helps Break Taboo Around Football And Mental Health

England defender Danny Rose has opened up about his battles with depression, triggered by a long injury lay-off and family tragedy.

The Spurs full-back’s brave revelation comes just weeks after Spain legend Andres Iniesta spoke out about his own personal struggles. Slowly but surely, players are breaking the long-standing taboo around football and mental health.

"It's no secret that I've been through a testing time at Tottenham this season," Rose, 27, told several national newspapers in the build-up to the World Cup.

"It led to me seeing a psychologist and I was diagnosed with depression, which nobody knows about."

He added: "I haven't told my mum or my dad, and they are probably going to be really angry reading this, but I've kept it to myself until now."

Rose said that a frustrating time on the treatment table, as well as Tottenham’s good form, exacerbated his depression.

"It all stemmed from my injury when I was advised I didn't need an operation. I don't know how many tablets I took to try and get fit for Tottenham, how many injections I took trying to get fit for Tottenham. I had cortisone and platelet-rich plasma injections trying to be fit for my club.

"I had to have an operation four months down the line - after all that football I missed, when the team was flying and I was playing really well, the team were playing really well.

"I'm not saying I've had worse treatment than anybody else, but it was difficult and that was the start of it."

The defender, who is expected to play in England’s warm-up game against Costa Rica on Thursday, revealed that his knee injury and subsequent eight month treatment and rehab also coincided with a tragic period in his personal life.

"My uncle killed himself in the middle