Former Arsenal defender Eboue admits his struggles

Former Ivory Coast and Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue has revealed that his struggles with mental health are continuing.

The 36-year-old opened up on French television about his battle with depression and said he had even considered suicide.

In an emotional interview he revealed his problems started when he was suspended by Fifa from all football-related activity for one year.

The ban, a result of failing to pay money owed to a former agent, led to the termination of his short-term contract at then Premier League side Sunderland in March 2016.

Without a professional club and shattered financially after a bitter and acrimonious divorce case, he said he had suicidal thoughts.

Sometimes I would lock myself in my room for three or four days. Just thinking and asking 'what's left?', Eboue told RMC Sport's Le Vestiaire (The Locker Room) in France.

Even today, I still take antidepressants to help me because it is still a long road for me. But here I am hoping others would learn from this.

Eboue, who is now retired from football, made 79 appearances for Ivory Coast, scoring three goals, and played at two World Cups (2006 and 2010) and five Africa Cup of Nations.