'I was in a bad way' - Liverpool defender who wound Eric Cantona up 'happy' again after losing nine stone in amazing transformation
Neil Ruddock was in a dark place for many years after retiring from football.
The centre-back made 152 appearances for Liverpool during five years at Anfield during the 90s, before hanging up his boots following stints with West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Swindon Town.
Turning to drink, you would have hardly believed that the one-time England international, who was hardly a pristine athlete even at the peak of his powers, was once a top-flight defender for well over a decade.
But appearing on ITV show ‘Harry's Heroes’ in both 2019 and 2020, as Harry Redknapp got together a squad of former England international footballers, getting them back fit and healthy for a game against Germany legends, was a sliding doors moment for Ruddock.
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Fitted with a pacemaker in 2020, he later had a gastric sleeve fitted and would lose nine stone as a result. Now in a much happier and healthier place, Ruddock credits appearing on ‘Harry’s Heroes’ for saving his life.
“I have a gastric sleeve. I did ‘Harry’s Heroes’ and it saved my life,” he told the ECHO in an exclusive interview. “I was in a bad way. Mentally I was in a bad way. Hadn’t been a footballer for 20-odd years.
“Turned to drink. That made me happy. But went and did ‘Harry’s Heroes’ and that changed my life. I’ve lost nine stone and my kids have got their dad back. I’m happy.”
A larger than life character, it is good to see Ruddock looking well and back with a smile on his face. And while he has at times been a figure of fun in the game, let’s not forget he was first choice at Anfield in Roy Evans’ Spice Boys team of
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