Former Premier League and Ireland International player Keith Fahey has warned of the huge “problems with commitment” nowadays and how he managed to find Faith “in my brokenness”.
Mr Fahey, who now lives in Spain, will be speaking at a conference in Dublin organised by the Legion of Mary at the end of the month.
He told The Irish Catholic he wants to share his story of loneliness, lost identity and addiction playing at football’s highest levels, and how he found God.
He said: “I was a Premier league footballer, I was also addicted. In the last 10 years I’ve introduced myself as a retired footballer, another time I introduced myself as an alcoholic or an addict.
“They are only temporary things, and they can be taken away at a moment’s notice. I was left with nothing in rehab, I was left with nothing when I finished playing football really.
“My identity was really wrapped up in who I thought I was, but it was all a lie. So at the end of the day, when I finished playing football I had to journey inwards and figure out, with the help of God, who I really am. It’s been fulfilling, I found God in my brokenness. I don’t believe everyone has to get to that point, but pain is the great persuader,” Mr Fahey insisted.
Mr Fahey’s professional football career began as a trainee with Arsenal in the year 2000. He subsequently played with several Irish clubs, with St Patrick’s Athletic being where he spent most of his career.
After being rewarded with a move to Birmingham City in 2008, he received promotion to the Premier League in 2009 and was also victorious in a 2011 League Cup final. Mr Fahey achieved 16 caps with the Republic of Ireland national team, scoring three goals during his appearances. He retired from football at the end of 2017.
Mr Fahey said that when someone speaks about Jesus and God “people may not be able to connect and sometimes I forget that”.
“I want to share that it’s not about something that is far, distant. In the past I had no one to share the good moments with, I had no one to share my darkness with.”
He explains that Jesus “is someone I go to, to share the good times, to bring my heavy burdens – it’s a relationship”.
“There are so many problems, even with commitment in the world, people can’t or won’t commit to things. I made a commitment back to the Catholic Church in 2022 and since then I met my wife, got married in Barcelona and we now live in Valencia. We have a 14-month-old son who is happy and healthy. We go to daily Mass. It’s a very good place for a family,” Mr Fahey said, adding: “Looking back through my life, I always wanted to have a family, but I never knew a way of even finding my wife before I met Jesus. I was lost, distracted, I had my priorities all wrong. In the past, I didn’t always know God, but he always knew me. Ultimately, these days, I’m on a good road and I know my need for God.”
Mr Fahey will be speaking on August 29 at De Montfort House, Smithfield, Dublin 7 at 8pm on the theme of ‘From Football to Faith’. Fr Philip Mulryne OP, a former professional footballer who played for Manchester United among others, is also said to be giving a talk.
