Tottenham’s Danny Rose: mental illness can affect anyone

Danny Rose has endured a year filled with turmoil both on and off the pitch, a difficult period that triggered his bout with depression. 

"“It’s no secret that I’ve been through a testing time at Tottenham this season,” Rose said to the BBC.“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.”"

Tottenham supporters hope the World Cup is precisely what the doctor ordered for the struggling 27-year-old. A long-term injury in conjunction with his uncle’s suicide enveloped Rose, making it almost impossible for him to cope. His mother was recently racially abused while his brother was almost shot at their Doncaster home, further exacerbating his ill mental health.

Spurs supporters haven’t seen the best version of Rose since the 2016-17 season, when he was England’s undisputed first-choice left back. His issues were compounded by his controversial interview with the Sun at the start of the 2017-18 season in which he stated that Tottenham underpay their players. He also stated that he deserves more money and would go elsewhere if Spurs didn’t increase his wages.

Knowing what we do now, you can understand Rose’s erratic behaviour. He was a man embroiled in inner turmoil. It’s yet another example of how mental illness can affect so devastatingly those who people perceive to have it all. But whether you’re rich, poor, famous, infamous or successful matters little. Mental illness doesn’t discriminate; the rich and famous aren’t immune from its ever pervading clutches.

Kate Spade, one of the world’s most renowned designers, committed suicide earlier this week, showing once more how vulnerable the mind can be.

It’s time for Spurs supporters to forget all about Rose’s prior indiscretions. He is one of ours, and we wish him all the best.

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Rose pledged his allegiance to Spurs a few weeks ago, saying he’s prepared to fight tooth and nail to win back his place from Ben Davies. In yesterday’s interview with the BBC, Rose said:

"“England has been my salvation and I can’t thank the manager and the medical staff enough. It was really hard, and being referred to a doctor and psychologist by the Spurs club doctor helped me massively to cope.”"

Let’s hope Tottenham too offers Rose salvation, as it seems the England left back requires his club’s support just as much as we need him to return to his former glorious self.