Ellie Roebuck, who recently transferred from Barcelona to Aston Villa, shared her personal story in The Player’s Tribune—about suffering a cardiac arrest at a young age. Its title says it all: Hell.
- At age 24, Roebuck discovered she’d had a stroke—an infarct in her left occipital lobe—after prolonged illness, neurological symptoms, and an MRI following persistent health concerns. She vividly recalls fears about whether she would still be herself.
- The issues began around Christmas 2023, with nausea and illness first attributed to food poisoning. At the same time, she was under stress: out of the Manchester City squad, considering her future, and pursuing interest from Barcelona.
- Before the stroke, Roebuck dealt with body-image pressures, overtraining, missing her period, and a serious calf injury that lingered far longer than expected. The demands of elite sport cost her both physically and mentally.
- She describes a breakdown of confidence, feeling frozen out at her club, sitting on the bench, even being excluded from squads. Emotionally, she felt alone—and that contributed more to her suffering than even the physical symptoms.
Explere the whole story here.
