Ex-Liverpool defender talks about his career in an interview with BBC (Credits: Imago Images)
Ex-Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom recently spoke with the BBC and talked about how his choices during the COVID-19 lockdown led to the downfall of his career.
“I shouldn’t have been there. I should have been at home recovering after the game, but it was lockdown and I was eager to be outside”, he told the BBC.
Wisdom, who was playing for Derby County at the time, was eager to go outside during a lockdown. He had finished a game against Reading as the Rams won 2-1 in an empty stadium.
“I was leaving the party by myself, walking to my car. I was on the street and there were about five guys, balaclavas and knives. They said: ‘Give us your watch.’ I said no and a fight started.”
The Leeds native was attending a party and, while leaving early morning, he had company waiting for him near his car. There were five masked men with knives trying to rob the defender.
“I didn’t have time to run. I should have used my head but pride got in the way. Loads of people came out of the party after about five minutes of fighting. The attackers ran off and I was left covered in blood on the street. Everything happened really quickly.”
Quiz: Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
“To this day I still have pain in my body from being stabbed”
Reminiscing about the incidents, he continued with how it affected his playing career. It was a hard time for Wisdom as it changed the overall trajectory of his career.
“I was able to drive home, which was about a 15-20 minute journey. Adrenalin probably kept me going, but only when I was home did I realise I’d been stabbed multiple times. I checked my thigh and the muscle was almost hanging out of the wound.”
“That’s when I phoned for an ambulance. My body just wasn’t the same”, he exclaimed. It was all downhill for the defender from that point as he went on to trial at Portsmouth after leaving Derby County.
Later, it was only semi-professional football for Wisdom as his body just couldn’t react the same due to nerve damage. However, the player is still grateful that he can play football.
“Thank God I’m good and that I made it through. I’m a fan of football, it doesn’t matter to me what level I’m playing at. I’m just grateful I’m still able to play.”
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