Former Premier League midfielder Akos Buzsaky has issued a statement on his Facebook page after being reported missing in Budapest, reassuring fans he is safe and explaining the circumstances behind his disappearance.
The 44-year-old, who played for Plymouth, QPR, Portsmouth and Barnsley, was declared missing on 18 August, prompting a police appeal for information. He made 18 Premier League appearances, scoring two goals and providing two assists.
Buzsaky's statement
In his Facebook post, Buzsaky said: "Dear friends and acquaintances! Unfortunately, in the past few months, there have been serious changes in my life that have tested me.
"The dead bodies have been piling up above my head, and there came a moment when I felt I had to break away from these daily routines, due to a misunderstanding, my worried mother pointed me toward the police," reports the Mirror.
"Thank you very much for all the concern and thoughts you have shown me. As soon as I learned about the situation, I stopped my retreat and informed the authorities.
"I wish everyone a very nice day, and it felt really good to receive so much love!"
QPR also shared the post on their social media channels.
Father's account
The former Hungary international retired from football in 2015 following a spell with Ferencvaros in his native country. His father, Akos Buzsaky Sr, told Hungarian outlet Blikk that he was unaware police were searching for his son.
"I didn't know that the police were also looking for my son," he said. "He basically spends a lot of time in Greece, where he works as a construction contractor. He spent almost the entire last year there.
"Since we don't live under the same roof, it's not surprising that we only speak less often. The last time I spoke to him was last week, when he was at home."
Past struggles
Buzsaky has previously spoken about his battles with addiction following his retirement from football. "I found a source of joy in life that I became addicted to," he revealed on a podcast.
"What addictions are there: gambling, alcohol, drugs. I fell into one of them, which I am not proud of. It is a part of my life, if I were to deny it or declare that period as not having happened, I would be deceiving myself."
His father confirmed Buzsaky has been working as a construction contractor in recent years, spending much of his time in Greece.
