Former Liverpool Star Danny Murphy Reveals Cocaine Addiction Post-Retirement
Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy has revealed he battled cocaine addiction following his retirement from football in 2013.
Murphy turned out for clubs including Crewe Alexandra, Charlton Athletic, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspurs and Blackburn Rovers.
The 47-year-old won nine caps for the England national team and has moved into punditry with the likes of BBC Sport and TalkSport following his retirement.
“When you don’t have football, problems become huge,” Murphy told the Ben Health Podcast.
"When you play football, the adrenaline and dopamine, all these things keep you forward-thinking and energetic.
"I had a spell on cocaine and smoking some weed. The drink, I could live without it. I wasn’t an alcoholic. I could sit in a house with alcohol and not drink it."
When asked if he was addicted to cocaine, the 47-year-old said: "For a while I was. I got to the point where I thought I couldn’t do things without it. Which was nonsense, of course I could.
"You manage it initially, you might do it once a week, twice a week, give yourself an extra third day. Eventually it builds up and grabs hold of you."
Murphy was part of the Liverpool side that won the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup in 2001.
