‘My personal life has been a mess” Sunderland summer SIGNING makes confession to reveal how switch from PL side to join the Black Cats at EFL changed “addiction” that nearly ruined his Footballing career… So emotional and inspiring.
Sunderland forward Aaron Connolly has courageously opened up about his battle with alcohol addiction, a struggle that affected the early stages of his professional career.
The 24-year-old first made headlines in the Premier League when he scored twice in his first start for Brighton during a 3-1 win over Tottenham five years ago. However, soon after, alcohol began to take a toll on his life.
Now, after signing for Sunderland as a free agent following his departure from Hull in the summer, Connolly has publicly shared his journey to overcome his addiction. Having previously spent time in rehab, he is now committed to staying sober, with hopes of regaining his place in the Republic of Ireland national team.
In an interview after joining Sunderland, Connolly spoke about his mission to maintain sobriety. Recently, he has gone further, discussing how he regularly attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as part of his recovery process.
Reflecting on his battle, Connolly told The Athletic, “I used to need alcohol to feel comfortable in myself, but now I’m so comfortable being sober. I love it. I wish I had made this change five years ago, but there comes a point when you have to be honest with yourself. I did that, and now I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”
He added, “I decided that enough was enough, and I wanted to stop. My personal life was a mess. When you’re deep into an alcohol addiction, you don’t really see it.”
Connolly revealed that he hasn’t had a drink since August 7, making the decision to take control of his life after finding himself without a club over the summer.
He also acknowledged how his drinking became more problematic following his breakthrough at Brighton, leading to unsuccessful loan spells at Luton, Middlesbrough, and Venezia.
Now focused on his future, the forward is determined to help Sunderland return to the Premier League, where he first showcased his talent as a youngster with Brighton. Connolly made his first Championship appearance for Sunderland in their recent 1-0 win over Hull, coming off the bench for the final 15 minutes.