Chris Kirkland on addiction hell, clashing with Rafa Benitez and inside story of Liverpool transfer
Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast
When Did You Realize You Had To Move On From Liverpool?
Chris recounts Pepe Reina's arrival, Rafa telling him to find another club, and frustration over how the exit was handled.
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Chris Kirkland lived the dream, but the latter stages of his football career and initial years of retirement were a living nightmare.
A boyhood Liverpool supporter, the one-time England international was just 20 years old when he joined his beloved Reds and became the most expensive goalkeeper in British history in August 2001.
While untimely injuries ultimately stopped him from becoming first-choice at Liverpool, he played his part in the Reds winning the Champions League in 2005 and can look back on his Anfield career with pride.
A move to Wigan Athletic followed in 2006 and he was the Latics’ number one for four seasons in the Premier League as he enjoyed the best years of his career.
But the wheels started to come off for Kirkland after joining Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2012. Already battling anxiety throughout his career, it was during his time with the Owls that he first developed an addiction to painkillers that left him fearing for his life.
Ahead of the release of Kirkland’s autobiography, ‘'Keeping It Quiet' - The Chris Kirkland Story’, on November 17th, the former Liverpool shot-stopper joined Theo Squires for a special edition of the Blood Red podcast as he bravely opened up about his struggles with mental health and addiction.
The 44-year-old also reveals all about the highs and lows of his Liverpool career, including the inside story of his dream move to Anfield, his injury struggles and why a troublesome relationship with Rafa Benitez proved to be the beginning of the end for Kirkland at his boyhood club.
Chris Kirkland’s autobiography, ‘'Keeping It Quiet' - The Chris Kirkland Story’, is available from November 17. Pre-orders are available at www.curtis-sport.com.
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