BBC – Oct 27, 2006 – Simon Austin – “I vividly remember the Stanley knife and the blood pouring on to the floor. Come to think of it, I remember the au pair’s screams too.”

With alcoholism threatening to ruin his football career and marriage, Paul McGrath slashed his wrists as he sat in his bedroom with his young son in November 1989.

McGrath is trying to rebuild his life after decades of alcoholism
McGrath says it was a “cry for help”, unlike later suicide attempts, and a few days later he played in midfield for Aston Villa against Everton.

He wore large sweatbands to cover the scars on his wrists and starred in a 6-2 win.

This stark contrast between his assurance and confidence on the pitch and his insecurity off it recurs throughout McGrath’s recently published autobiography Back From The Brink.

“I always felt comfortable on a football pitch,” McGrath, looking impeccable in a navy suit and crisp white shirt, says.

“That was the time I wanted to shine. It is wonderful to hear your name being chanted in the stadium, you cannot buy that.

“I didn’t have a nerve in my body when I played football. The nervousness came in when I wasn’t playing football, that was when I had problems.

“I always shied away from the publicity. I didn’t like microphones, I didn’t like TV, I didn’t like any of the hassles. I just didn’t like the hype that surrounded football. The drinking seemed to ease the pressures that I felt.”

McGrath is often described as the Republic of Ireland’s most popular sportsman and is still adored by fans of Manchester United and Villa.

The defender was renowned for having what his United and Republic team-mate Kevin Moran describes as “an overdrive”.

PAUL McGRATH FACTFILE

Born: 4 April 1959 Clubs: St Patrick’s (1981-82); Man Utd (1982-89); Aston Villa (1989-96); Derby (1996-97); Sheff Utd (1997-98) International: 83 caps and 8 goals for Republic of Ireland

Honours: FA Cup (1985); League Cup (1994, 1996); PFA Player of the Year 1993