Aaron Connolly, the Republic of Ireland and Sunderland forward, has opened up about his struggles with alcohol addiction after spending a month in a rehabilitation centre this summer.

Connolly, who famously made an impact for Brighton & Hove Albion by scoring two goals against Tottenham Hotspur on his Premier League debut in 2019, has candidly discussed how his life and career began to spiral out of control.

In an emotional interview with Sunderland's media channels, the 24-year-old expressed hope that his story might help others facing similar challenges with alcohol addiction.

Connolly described his Premier League debut against Spurs as “one of the best days of my life, but also one of the worst,” as it marked the start of his difficulties with alcohol and a loss of focus on his footballing career.

‘I was living the footballer lifestyle without the football’

After falling out of favour at Brighton, Connolly had loan spells at Luton Town, Middlesbrough, and Venezia before joining Hull City. Last month, he signed for Sunderland as a free agent.

“I started to believe the hype, and I didn’t turn into a good person after that [Spurs game],” Connolly admitted. “I was difficult to be around. I didn’t know how to handle it. I began to live the lifestyle of a footballer, without focusing on the football side of things. It’s painful to reflect on and talk about it.

“I had off-field issues. I lost sight of myself and why I played football. I was always chasing things I never pursued before that Tottenham game. I was never chasing money. I was never chasing social media attention. I didn’t start playing football for those reasons.

“It was obvious I had a problem with alcohol for a few years. My parents, who have never been drinkers, always warned me to stay away from alcohol, given there’s a history of alcoholism in my family. I didn’t listen, and it got me into a lot of trouble. It became something I relied on.

“My excitement used to come from playing football, winning matches, and scoring goals. It reached a point where the buzz came more from drinking alcohol than stepping onto the pitch. I would look forward to matches ending just so I could find time to drink.”

Connolly confessed that he “stopped doing the things that got me into that position” after the Spurs game, admitting he “stopped working hard” on his football.

‘My life was a mess’

This summer, Connolly made the decision to confront his addiction by checking himself into a rehabilitation centre.

“At the end of July, I realised I couldn’t continue,” he said. “I couldn’t live the way I had been living because it was hurting the people around me – my family, my friends. Most of all, it was destroying me. I had one of my best seasons at Hull last year, but off the pitch, my life was in chaos.

“I genuinely believe that speaking out about this will help others. I had everything any young boy could dream of, yet I couldn’t control my addiction. It is an addiction, and going into rehab was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Now, Connolly is focused on making an impression at Sunderland and rediscovering his best form.

“After the past few months, it’s just great to be playing football again,” he said. “I’ve been through a tough time, so being around good people – a great manager, excellent coaching staff – just being in a positive environment, I feel revitalised.

“I feel like that young kid who came to England once more. I have a purpose again, and the weight has lifted from my shoulders. I feel like that 15-year-old who first came to Brighton, chasing a dream. My new goal is to help get this club back into the Premier League.”