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.
First findings from 10-year Drake Football Study published
Launched in 2019, the Drake Football Study is tracking the physical and mental health of around 170 men’s and women’s footballers – beginning during their playing careers and transitioning through to retirement.
