Ex-Liverpool Star Jonjo Shelvey Opens Up on Addiction That 'Destroyed Relationship with My Kids'

Former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has candidly shared his battle with sleeping pill addiction, revealing how it devastated his family life and stemmed from loneliness during his career.[1]

Shelvey, 33, who played 13 years in the Premier League for clubs including Liverpool, Swansea, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest, described the addiction as an "escape" to pass time alone. It began intensifying after his 2023 move to Istanbul's Besiktas, which he called a "Muslim-orientated city" with limited nightlife options for him.[1] "I hate being alone," he admitted, explaining he avoided alcohol due to its impact on fitness but turned to easily accessible sleeping pills from club doctors or online.

His routine grew destructive: returning home at 1-3 a.m., eating late, then relying on pills to sleep before training. The habit "destroyed" his relationship with his children, straining family bonds amid isolation.[1]

Returning to the UK, Shelvey credits his wife, Daisy, for helping him quit. Their relationship with the kids has since mended. After a stint with Burnley, he now plays for Dubai's lower-league Arabian Falcons.[1]

"Just to pass the time... And it’d become an addiction. Just an escape."
— Jonjo Shelvey[1]

Shelvey's story highlights the hidden pressures on footballers, from early Liverpool days—where he signed young amid Charlton relegation—to toxic Newcastle spells and rows with figures like Sir Alex Ferguson, as touched on in interviews.[1][2] Now sober, he focuses on rebuilding his life and career abroad.

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