5 Footballers who battled gambling problems

#2 Eidur Gudjohnsen

Gudjhohsen got sucked into a gambling habit after getting injured

Chelsea’s Icelandic striker got into trouble due to his gambling habits. After suffering an injury that made him feel “bored” and “lonely” Eidur would find solace in the casinos, where he lost £400,000 in a five-month period.

When I had that huge win I had a feeling of elation, which I can only compare to the adrenaline rush of scoring a goal. It put me on a high and it was magical. But it was a false feeling. I was looking for a quick fix but it just made things worse than they already were.It got to the point where I was just chasing the money that I had won initially and was getting dragged deeper and deeper.” said Eidur Gudjohnsen

His addiction followed him to Barcelona and continued to spiral out of control. The striker ultimately ended up owing more than £6 million to banks around Europe.

In 2009, he vowed never to gamble again after revealing his addiction. Recently, Gudjohnsen has taken to coaching after he was hired as the assistant coach for the Icelandic under-21 football team.

#3 Matthew Etherington

Matthew Etherington’s time at Stoke was troubled by off-field issues

The former West Ham, Tottenham and Stoke winger was addicted to poker and placing bets on horse races. This led to him accumulating debts of over £1.5 million before seeking help for his addiction.

Matthew Etherington and his mother worked with the Professional Footballers' Association to bring his gambling under control. He also spent time at at the renowned Sporting Chance clinic for his gambling addiction.

Etherington retired from playing in December 2014 due to a persistent back injury.

Now he's hoping to forge a career in management, still regularly attends Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meetings in order to avoid a relapse.