Steven Caulker on Retirement, Addiction, and the "Backlash" of Speaking Out

Natalie Sawyer (UK) is joined by former Tottenham, Liverpool, and Sierra Leone defender Steven Caulker for a raw and revealing conversation about life after the final whistle. Steven discusses his recent retirement, the mental toll of a 17-year career, and his previous battles with gambling and alcohol addiction. He opens up about the "backlash" he faced from the footballing world when he first went public with his struggles and how playing abroad in Turkey helped him reset. They also discuss the current managerial landscape, including Liam Rosenior’s appointment at Chelsea and the pressure on Thomas Frank at Spurs. Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts. 00:00 - Intro 01:32 - What the initial period after retirement has been like 04:03 - The freedom of retirement (Food & Running) 05:53 - Skiing & things footballers aren't allowed to do 07:32 - Planning for life after football 10:49 - Why do athletes struggle post-retirement? 14:08 - Steven’s battle with gambling & alcohol 16:58 - Is football doing enough for mental health? 19:43 - The "Backlash": Being rejected by clubs for speaking out 23:16 - The Brentford Model & asking for help 25:55 - Letting go of results & playing in Turkey 29:37 - Liam Rosenior at Chelsea & Thomas Frank at Spurs 31:52 - Steven’s future in management (2026?) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices