Top 10 Great Footballers Who Committed Suicide

The beautiful game of football is regarded as the most passionate game all around the world. Enjoyed by people of every age group, by the old and the young, the game possesses a lot of intensity, excitement and thrills. A popular past time and the most watched, most anticipated sports; just the kicking of ball that evokes the passion has been enjoyed since the ancient Roman and Greek times. With several tiers of football ranging from youth academy to clubs and nations, players from different part of the world tussle for their top rank all around the world.

Throughout the times and history of football, several legends were born, from Pele to Maradona, Garrincha, Ronaldinho, Zidane and the modern days Messi and Ronaldo, who played in top stadiums of the world, they all have sacrificed their best to take this game more as a religion and not just a sport. However, there are some unforgettable names in the history of football who gave their best in football, yet could no longer bear the burden of their life and family, love and anger and committed suicide at a young age.

Here we list the top 10 great footballers who committed suicide at their early age while in the process of making their career as a player or a manager.

10. Dale Roberts (1986-2010)

Dale Roberts was born on 22 October, 1986 in England and started his career as a goalkeeper for his native North East sides of Sunderland and Middlesbrough before moving to Nottingham forest where he was sent on loan to Eastwood Town and Alfrenton Town. He played for the Rushden & Diamonds on a loan for two seasons and moved to the Conference National side in 2009 where he won the player of the season in 2009. He won six caps for the England C and also became the player of the year for England C. Robert died at the age of 24, in 2010 by hanging himself in his home just before the night of the FA Trophy against his old club Eastwood Town. The match was cancelled then. Reports claim that he suffered from asphyxia as he struggled during his injury and saw his fiancée have affair with one of his team mates Paul Terry.

9. Justin Fashanu (1961-1998)

Justinus Soni “Justin” Fashanu born on 19 February, 1961 was the first English football to openly accept his homosexuality. He is also known as the first balck player to demand a £1m transfer fee which landed him to Nottingham Forest from Norwich City in 1981. He did not enjoy much of title success in his career and played in senior level upto 1994. He also played for the England U-21 and scored 5 goals in 11 appearances. He played for 22 clubs in total during his football career in England and the United States. In 1998 he was accused of an improper sexuality act in the United States and was charged, but he ran away to England where he killed himself in May the same year.

8. Tim Carter (1967-2008)

Timothy Douglas Carter also named as “Tim” was an English professional footballer and a goal keeper. Born on 5^th October 1967, Tim started his professional football career at 1985 with Bristol Rovers. After then, he also played for several reputed English clubs like Sunderland, Millwall, Oxford United, and Birmingham City before ending his career as a player at 1998 with Millwall. He also featured thrice in the youth squad for the English team. He played as a second choice goalkeeper at Sunderland during 1987-1993 during which Sunderland were promoted to the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final. Carter also became a goalkeeping coach with Sunderland first team later and worked as a part time coach for the Estonian national team. Carter’s death was of no suspicion as his body was found with a rope around his neck in Stretford, Greater Manchester on 19 June, 2008. Reports claim that the major cause of his suicide was his son’s disabilities.