Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has disclosed that he concealed seizures from the club during his youth due to a fear of being released.
Warnock, 44, who played 67 times for Liverpool, recounted his experience on BBC 5 Live, stating he was "petrified of telling Liverpool because I was worried about being released." He explained his concern that the club might terminate his contract if they discovered he had a medical condition. "I was worried about being on the pitch and it happens," he said, noting that he never knew what triggered the seizures.
He experienced these episodes for approximately three years, undergoing tests such as CT and MRI scans. "I was at a computer and then I woke up in a hospital bed," Warnock recalled. "I didn't remember anything, I completely blacked out."
His friends informed him that he had a seizure, leading to an ambulance being called and his transport to the hospital. "I was embarrassed to be honest, because no-one else had it, no-one knew about it, I didn't know about it until it happened," he added.
Warnock fortunately outgrew the condition and has not had a seizure since he was 14. "I was in a fortunate position where I grew out of it," he stated. "I didn't have to go on medication or worry about driving a car or things like that. It's the first time I've ever really spoken about it."
The left-back left Liverpool in 2007 and went on to play for Aston Villa, Leeds, and Derby, among other clubs. Since retiring from playing in 2018, he has transitioned into broadcasting, appearing as a pundit on various television channels including the BBC, Sky Sports, BT Sport, NBC, and DAZN.
