Karen Carney, the former England and Team GB footballer turned ITV pundit, has revealed she was 'in a bad way' during her playing career after developing an addiction to sleeping pills and engaging in self-harm. The 38-year-old, who is currently part of ITV's coverage of the ongoing World Cup in the United States, opened up about her struggles in a candid interview.
A Difficult Battle
Carney, who played for clubs including Arsenal, Birmingham City, and Chicago Red Stars, admitted that her time in the United States was particularly challenging. 'I was in a pretty bad way,' she told The Guardian. 'I think that has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to overcome. I came back [to England] purely to … save my life, pretty much.'
She credited her friends for helping her through the darkest period. 'People around me dragged me through and I owed it to them to try and fight, and it’s an amazing feeling when you can get through that. It’s hard to talk about it, and I couldn’t have done it without people [around me].'
From Player to Pundit
Since retiring from playing in 2019, Carney has become a familiar face on television, working for Sky Sports, Amazon Prime, and ITV. She is currently part of ITV's punditry team at the World Cup, covering the biggest matches in the tournament.
Carney's journey from player to pundit has not been without its challenges, but she remains grateful for the opportunities she has had. 'I’m really happy with my career. I’m so grateful and humbled for the opportunities I had. You ask any Lioness, our job is to always make it better for the next generation.'
Progress in Women's Football
Reflecting on the barriers she faced during her playing days, Carney highlighted the lack of facilities and coaching available to women. 'So many times dogs nicked my ball, wee’d on my bottle, nicked my cones. And the mud. The mud was so thick. A lot of us in that [GB] team that I grew up with, we had to go to the local parks and train ourselves because we didn’t have the facilities, the coaching.'
Despite these obstacles, Carney is optimistic about the future of women's football. 'The speed is improving, the quality is improving and it makes me so happy that the product is getting better and our female footballers are just thriving.'
Carney's story is one of resilience and determination, both on and off the pitch. Her honesty about her struggles with addiction and mental health serves as an inspiration to many.
