Felix Magath (66) spoke in an interview with the "Bunte" magazine about a psychologically unstable phase in his life. In spring 2011, he was on the verge of depression. "I woke up in the morning and thought: 'Today you don't get up and stay in bed,'" explains the former Bayern Munich master coach. "Everything was just too much for me. Back then I saw a deep abyss and almost fell into it. Looking back, I have to say: It was close." He was convinced that only his family had saved him from getting sick.
"I had half a year behind Schalke, in which I was constantly criticized in public and got all negative emotions. In addition, I always had to answer for bad results alone," Magath looks back today at the reasons for his health problems. That had badly affected him. "If I had a better understanding at the time, I could probably have handled the situation differently with psychological support." At that time Schalke 04 separated from Magath and he returned to VfL Wolfsburg.
Today, the trainer is a co-partner of a clinic for people with depression and addictions. Does he regret anything in his life? "Of course I did some things wrong. But I can't change the past, look ahead. I learned that in football. My philosophy is that something better always comes up."
Help with depression is provided by the telephone counseling service on the free number: 0800/111 0 111