‘It was obvious I had a problem with alcohol’ [Video]

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND attacker Aaron Connolly has revealed he is in recovery from alcohol addiction after recognising that his lifestyle was causing serious harm both to himself and to his loved ones.

Connolly, who joined English Championship side Sunderland on a one-year deal in September, spent a month in a treatment clinic over the summer and says he now “couldn’t be any happier” as he attempts to rebuild his life and reignite his football career.

The Galway native, 24, laid bare his years-long dependence on alcohol in an in-house video interview with Sunderland, which Connolly’s new employers published as part of World Mental Health Day.

Connolly, who has nine senior caps for Ireland, admitted that his relationship with alcohol reached the point he would look forward to going drinking while playing football matches.

But the former Brighton winger stressed that while his on-field career trajectory took a downward turn due …