Dejan Lovren admits he once 'questioned whether it was worth living'

Dejan Lovren, the former Croatia international and ex-Liverpool centre-back, opened up about a dark personal period during an interview on the show "Career in the Rearview." The 2016 season — when he was at his sporting peak with the English club — was, he said, a time when his life outside football was unraveling.

From pitch success to private struggle

Lovren described how fame, household problems and intense pressure combined with mistakes of his own to push him into a severe mental health crisis. He said that the struggle affected basic daily routines and that there were mornings when he seriously wondered whether continuing to live made sense.

In the interview he said: "It was an extremely painful time. Problems with my wife, pressure, and there are some of my own mistakes as well. But I couldn't put a bite into my mouth for days! I've never told anyone this in my life, but here I say it now — there were mornings when I seriously wondered whether it made sense to continue with life?! I know how hard it is to say and to hear this, but I tell everyone going through a similar hell that they are not alone and that this happens to many."

The confession from a player who reached the highest levels of club and international football highlights the hidden mental toll elite athletes can face, even amid trophies and large contracts. Lovren’s words aim to reduce stigma and encourage others in similar situations to seek help.

The interview was aired on September 19, 2026, and drew widespread attention as supporters and fellow players responded to Lovren’s candid account.

Photo: press material from the event