Paddy McCarthy | The Eagle who guards the nest

Sportdec Speaks

'I was really in a bad place. It was a horrible time for me. The harder I worked, the more injuries I seemed to get. As a footballer, when you're trying everything and doing all the right things, but your body lets you down, it's not nice'. Former club captain and Crystal Palace legend, Paddy McCarthy, opens up about the struggles professional footballers endure when dealing with career-ending injuries. The 33-year-old Irishman tells a compelling story about overcoming the physical and mental challenges he faced during his playing career. From his cosy academy life at Manchester City to slugging it out for Boston United, a club he initially thought was in the USA, when Kevin Keegan sent him out on loan. Paddy's incredible experience in football has energized his passion for coaching as he now applies the impressive Crystal Palace philosophy to improving the club's thriving successful academy. He joins Dave O'Grady and Gareth Morgan on #SportdecSpeaks to tell his amazing story.