When former Manchester United defender Tom Thorpe suffered the latest debilitating setback in a career that stalled for five years because of serious mental health issues, he could have been forgiven for slipping into another damaging downward spiral.
Thorpe, now 30, captained United’s FA Youth Cup-winning side in 2011 that included Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison, but was released in 2015 and ended up at Indian Super League club ATK.
He returned to the UK for treatment on an injury and never went back. For five years, Thorpe says he did not do anything. He was suffering from severe depression.
“I was at rock bottom,” he said.
Last week, Thorpe was one of seven former United players at the Carrington training ground taking part in the club’s new Alumni programme – a series of training sessions and workshops aimed at keeping them fit as they attempt to secure new contracts, and also offering ideas for potential career paths after retiring from playing.
Thorpe, left, with Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard, in the FA Youth Cup-winning Manchester United team of 2011
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