Ireland legend Paul McGrath reveals only advice he'd give younger self

The former Aston Villa defender also set the record straight about his relationship with Alex Ferguson, who managed him at Manchester United

Soccer legend Paul McGrath has admitted the only advice he would give his younger self is: “Don’t ever start drinking.”

The former Ireland and Manchester United ace has had a very public battle with booze, first revealing his struggle in his autobiography.

The 64-year-old said he has had “a few trips” over the years, but added: “It’s lovely to be well at the moment.”

Speaking to Newstalk’s Anton Savage yesterday, he said: “Don’t ever start drinking. That’s the only advice that I’d give myself.”

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He added: “I used the wrong methods to get over my shyness, which was alcohol. Over the years, and it’s been a lot of years, I tripped up from time to time. When I do trip, I just want to get back to being well again. I don’t really care what other people think.

“I get a lot of help from a lot of people, you kind of learn who your friends are... [when] you do trip.”

McGrath, who has teamed up with Pringles to promote men’s mental health, said playing under the influence impacted on his performance. But he added: “It’s been done now. And I’ve really no regrets about any of the games.”

He listed Ireland’s win over Italy in the 1994 World Cup as a highlight of his career, since Italy knocked Ireland out of Italia ‘90 in the quarter finals.

And he set the record straight on his relationship with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who sold him to Aston Villa in 1989. McGrath had previously said he hated Ferguson, but says he now understands the reasoning behind the decision to sell him.

He said: “I’ve had a phone call from Sir Alex about doing work at Man United when I was finished as a footballer. Just to go down and walk amongst the guests, trying to give me a few shillings.

“Whatever people think about him, he’s a really decent human being. He was a real gentleman about it.”

McGrath, who has just welcomed his sixth grandchild, admitted that while he is doing well now, it has been difficult in the past to seek help for his mental-health struggles.

He said: “I just didn’t want people knowing about it and stuff like that. So the bottom of the glass was the easiest place for me to go to. Some men, they want to be the macho people, and hide certain things and stuff like that. It’s always good to talk, I believe anyway.”

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