What you should know
A timely initiative
FIFPRO research shows that more than one in three active professional footballers suffer from mental health symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, disturbed sleep and distress during their often short but intense careers.
A collaborative effort
Coordinated by FIFPRO, the Drake Football Study is seed-funded by The Drake Foundation and supported by Amsterdam University Medical Centers, the Mehiläinen Hospitals in Helsinki and Turku, Finland and Push Sports in Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Exploring the prominent health issues in football
Former footballers are also more likely to suffer from the effects of deteriorated knee joint cartilage. What's more, in cardiovascular health, there have been a series of devastating sudden deaths of apparently-healthy professional footballers. The study also aims to explore neurocognitive decline and a possible link to concussion.
Drake Football Study – what the players say
On World Health Day – and year-round – FIFPRO and its national member associations remain committed to elevating the quality of players’ physical and mental health.
