Van der Wiel breaks taboo and talks about mental struggle

Gregory van der Wiel, the 38‑year‑old former wing‑back of Ajax and Paris Saint‑Germain, has openly admitted that he suffered from serious mental problems during and after his career. To make the subject discussable, he recently launched the podcast ‘pressure’ and talked about it with Flashscore.

First signs of the struggle

‘It all started seven years ago, when I stopped playing football,’ Van der Wiel says openly. He describes panic attacks, social anxieties and a daily waking up without routine or purpose, which made it hard for him to find a new rhythm.

After his statements he received many reactions from fellow footballers. ‘They were big players from Premier‑League clubs and from Real Madrid; they said they completely understood what I was saying,’ according to Van der Wiel.

The 38‑year‑old explains that the outside world expects top footballers to earn a lot of money, lead a ‘cool’ life and always stay strong. If they admit they don’t feel well, that is, according to him, seen as a weakness.

Van der Wiel wants to show that he can love clothing, tattoos and a good lifestyle, while at the same time he can struggle mentally. His podcast ‘pressure’ provides a platform to share this complex story.

Van der Wiel played, among others, for Ajax, Paris Saint‑Germain and the Dutch national team, after which he ended his career. The end of his active career marked the beginning of his mental struggles.

With ‘pressure’ he wants to break the taboo around mental health in the football world. He hopes that other players dare to speak out without fear of stigma.