Danny Drinkwater: Why I’m walking away from football (E222)

Danny Drinkwater joins us on High Performance, taking this opportunity to announce his retirement from professional football. After an almost 20 year career, Danny takes some time to look back on his accomplishments, greatest lessons and biggest challenges.

After rising through the Youth Academy at Manchester United, Danny played for some of the country’s biggest clubs, including Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Leicester City. He takes Jake and Damian through his football career; from sitting on the bench at Manchester United aged 18, to being a key part of Leicester City’s Premier League winning squad. He shares the emotional rollercoaster of winning the Premier League, as well as the painful moment his Euro's opportunity was taken away. Having worked with legendary figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sir Alex Ferguson and Claudio Ranieri, Danny reflects on how they inspired and challenged him, both in his career and personal life.

Danny delves into what he believes makes a great football manager, emphasising the significance of personal management to bring out the best in players and build team momentum. They also discuss Danny’s difficult reality with mental health struggles, including dealing with rejection after new offers failed to materialise. Reflecting on his lowest point when he was arrested for drink-driving in 2019, Danny highlights the importance of mental health care and finding practical solutions to unhappiness.

This is a conversation about personal growth, overcoming the darkest moments and moving to a brighter future.

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# **High Performance Podcast Episode Summary**

## **Guest: Danny Drinkwater**

### **Key Points:**

- Danny Drinkwater announces his retirement from professional football after a nearly 20-year career.


- He reflects on his journey, from rising through the ranks at Manchester United to playing for several top clubs, including Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Leicester City.


- Drinkwater shares the emotional rollercoaster of winning the Premier League with Leicester City and the disappointment of having his Euro 2016 opportunity taken away.


- He discusses the influence of legendary figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Claudio Ranieri on his career and personal life.


- Drinkwater emphasizes the importance of personal management in football and highlights the challenges of dealing with mental health struggles, including rejection and addiction.


- He shares his insights on what makes a great football manager and stresses the significance of building team momentum and fostering a positive team culture.


- The podcast delves into Drinkwater's difficult experiences with mental health, including his arrest for drink-driving in 2019, and the importance of seeking help and finding practical solutions to unhappiness.


- Drinkwater's story serves as a reminder of the personal growth and resilience required to overcome adversity and move towards a brighter future.


### **Memorable Quotes:**

- "Careers are careers... I mean, football is a short one and they do come to an end, but not being able to like kind of go through it, how you'd want to go through it. It's kind of tough to take as well, I suppose." - Danny Drinkwater


- "We won the championship. We nearly got relegated the season after, first season in the Prem, and then the second year in the Prem, we go on and win it. Like if you look at them as three years in football, it's just untouchable, I don't think you're going to get that. And then even a year after that, we got to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. It's not something that happens all the time, that." - Danny Drinkwater


- "And I love football at Leicester, and I've never got it back since I left there." - Danny Drinkwater


- "Obviously, like, I'm sobering up and I'm in this cell and I'm thinking this is not you at all. It's not you as a person, it's not how you want to be as a person, like you need to get hold of yourself here. It's the darkest I've ever felt, 100%. It was almost like you're drowning a bit and you forgot to swim." - Danny Drinkwater


- "Why am I here and not even playing?" - Danny Drinkwater


### **Overall Message:**

This conversation with Danny Drinkwater highlights the challenges and triumphs of a professional footballer's career, emphasizing the importance of personal growth, resilience, and seeking support during difficult times. It serves as a reminder that success and happiness extend beyond the pitch and that finding balance and addressing mental health are crucial for overall well-being.

In this episode of the High Performance podcast, Danny Drinkwater announces his retirement from professional football after a nearly 20-year career. He reflects on his accomplishments, greatest lessons, and biggest challenges.

Danny's journey took him from Manchester United's Youth Academy to some of England's top clubs, including Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Leicester City. He shares the emotional rollercoaster of winning the Premier League with Leicester and the disappointment of missing out on the Euro opportunity.

Danny emphasizes the importance of personal management for football managers to bring out the best in players and build team momentum. He also discusses his struggles with mental health, including dealing with rejection and the aftermath of his arrest for drink-driving in 2019.

Danny highlights the significance of mental health care and finding practical solutions to unhappiness. He stresses the need for kindness to oneself and others, especially in the face of public scrutiny and criticism.

The conversation delves into the importance of personal growth, overcoming challenges, and moving forward to a brighter future. Danny emphasizes the value of seeking professional help and finding trusted individuals to talk to during difficult times.

Overall, this podcast episode provides a candid and insightful look into the life and career of Danny Drinkwater, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of a professional footballer while also highlighting the importance of mental health and personal well-being.

# Summary of the Podcast Episode: Danny Drinkwater Retires from Professional Football

In this episode of the High Performance Podcast, former professional footballer Danny Drinkwater announces his retirement from the sport after a nearly 20-year career. He reflects on his journey, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned along the way.

**Key Points:**

- Danny Drinkwater began his career at Manchester United, rising through the ranks of the youth academy.

- He played for several prominent clubs throughout his career, including Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Leicester City.

- Drinkwater played a crucial role in Leicester City's historic Premier League title win in 2016.

- He faced mental health struggles and personal setbacks, including a drink-driving arrest in 2019.

- Drinkwater emphasizes the importance of mental health care and finding practical solutions to unhappiness.

- He believes that a great football manager should prioritize personal management to bring out the best in players and build team momentum.

- Drinkwater highlights the significance of self-worth and personal development beyond football.

- He shares his experiences of working with legendary figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Claudio Ranieri, and the impact they had on his career.

- Drinkwater acknowledges that he could have made different choices at various points in his career, but he is grateful for the opportunities he had.

**Overall Message:**

Danny Drinkwater's journey in football was filled with both triumphs and challenges. He encourages individuals to prioritize their mental well-being, embrace personal growth, and learn from their experiences, both positive and negative. Drinkwater's story serves as a reminder that success is not always measured by material achievements but also by personal growth and resilience.

# Danny Drinkwater's High-Performance Journey: From Triumphs to Challenges

**Introduction**

Danny Drinkwater, a former professional footballer with a career spanning nearly two decades, joins the High-Performance podcast to announce his retirement from the sport. He reminisces about his accomplishments, lessons learned, and the hurdles he faced throughout his journey.

**Football Career: From Manchester United to Leicester City**

Danny's football career took him to some of England's most prominent clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Leicester City. He shares his experiences, from being a young player on the bench at Manchester United to becoming an integral part of Leicester City's Premier League-winning squad.

**Winning the Premier League and Euro's Disappointment**

Danny vividly recounts the emotional highs of winning the Premier League with Leicester City and the contrasting lows of having his opportunity to play in the Euros taken away. He reflects on these experiences and the impact they had on his career.

**Inspiration from Legendary Figures**

Danny had the privilege of working with legendary figures in football, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Claudio Ranieri. He discusses how these individuals inspired and challenged him, both professionally and personally.

**Attributes of a Great Football Manager**

Danny delves into what he believes makes a great football manager, emphasizing the importance of personal management to motivate players and build team momentum. He shares his insights on effective leadership and team dynamics.

**Mental Health Struggles and Overcoming Adversity**

Danny opens up about his struggles with mental health, including dealing with rejection and the aftermath of an arrest for drink-driving in 2019. He highlights the significance of mental health care and finding practical solutions to address unhappiness.

**Conclusion: Personal Growth and a Brighter Future**

The conversation centers around personal growth, resilience in the face of adversity, and moving towards a brighter future. Danny's journey serves as an inspiration for overcoming challenges and embracing new opportunities.