Alessia Russo has spoken about one of the toughest times in her career, detailing her period away from football as “lonely”, and mentally exhausting. Alessia Russo has spoken about one of the toughest times in her career, detailing her period away from football as “lonely”, and mentally exhausting. The England and Arsenal forward, known for her confidence on the pitch and her infectious energy around her teammates, said that being away from the game brought challenges that fans seldom saw behind the scenes. The England and Arsenal forward, known for her confidence on the pitch and her infectious energy around her teammates, said that being away from the game brought challenges that fans seldom saw behind the scenes.
“It was hard to walk away from the daily routine and the connection that football has always provided me,” Russo said of the experience. “It was hard to walk away from the daily routine and the connection that football has always provided me,” Russo said of the experience. For years her identity had been defined by training sessions, match days, jokes in the dressing room and endless competition. For years her identity had been defined by training sessions, match days, jokes in the dressing room and endless competition. There were times when she said the silence was too much without them. There were times when she said the silence was too much without them.
“Football is your whole world for so long,” Russo said. You become conscious of how much of who you are when that is suddenly taken away, even if only for a moment. There were sure to be moments when I felt alone.
The forward spoke about the emotional toll of watching teammates play when she couldn’t make the kind of contribution she wanted. Like many professional athletes, Russo admitted she struggled with impatience, irritation and a sense of distance from the team atmosphere she loved.
Football players are often seen at their best by fans — scoring goals, celebrating victories and playing in packed stadiums — but Russo’s honesty revealed the emotional challenges many athletes face when they aren’t playing. Football players are often seen at their best by fans — scoring goals, celebrating victories and playing in packed stadiums — but Russo’s honesty revealed the emotional challenges many athletes face when they aren’t playing. Recovery is more than physical healing. Recovery is more than physical healing. It’s very personal and emotional and mental. It’s very personal and emotional and mental.
Despite the suffering, Russo said, the event helped her grow personally, too. Despite the suffering, Russo said, the event helped her grow personally, too. During her time away from the game she could think about her career, her relationships and the importance of a healthy balance away from football. During her time away from the game she could think about her career, her relationships and the importance of a healthy balance away from football. She thanked her fellow players, close friends, family and club staff for helping her to stay motivated when she found it hard. She thanked her fellow players, close friends, family and club staff for helping her to stay motivated when she found it hard.
Supporters took to social media to offer words of encouragement after her comments were reported. Supporters took to social media to offer words of encouragement after her comments were reported. Russo was widely praised for her candor about loneliness and mental health in professional sports, with her honesty described as “powerful” and “important” for future athletes who may face similar struggles. Russo was widely praised for her candor about loneliness and mental health in professional sports, with her honesty described as “powerful” and “important” for future athletes who may face similar struggles.
Russo has become one of the biggest names at Arsenal W.F.C. not just for her goal scoring ability but also for her personality and work ethic. Russo has become one of the biggest names at Arsenal W.F.C. not just for her goal scoring ability but also for her personality and work ethic. Her honesty has only added to the respect many of her supporters already had for her. Her honesty has only added to the respect many of her supporters already had for her.
Now, with the future of football in mind, Russo says she feels more mentally strong. The tough period helped her appreciate every opportunity to get on the field and remember why she first fell in love with the sport.
Her story reminds many of her followers that loneliness can strike even the strongest of athletes, and that sometimes the best kind of strength is vulnerability.
