EX-FOOTIE STAR’S OWN GOALS

FOOTBALL legend Ian Wright has confessed about his “unsavoury” past, regretting some of his life choices at the start of his career.

The retired Arsenal and England striker said he isn’t proud of the person he was when he began playing professionally.

He admitted success went to his head leading to a stint in prison and trysts with “other women”. But counselling has sorted him out.

Wrighty confessed: “I was so wrapped up in the success and myself that I lost sight of my kids, of being a decent husband. My personal life was unsavoury.

“There were other women.

I started to believe the hype and to lose my focus.

“I got lost for a bit and it took me a lot of counselling sessions to be able to deal with that and speak about it as frankly as I am now.

“I wasn’t proud of the way I was then, but it’s shaped me to be the person I am now.”

Wrighty, who spent two weeks in jail for failing to pay driving fines in 1982, believes his childhood had an effect on him and he can’t remember being hugged. He told Red magazine: “I remember crying every night in prison thinking, ‘This isn’t the place for me.’

“That was when I realised I had responsibilities.”

The father-of-eight added: “I was scared of rejection at first, worried everyone would say I was rubbish.

“But once I made the transition into football and had that support in place, I learned what hard work was and what you got for it.”

The 56-year-old also revealed that he receives daily racist abuse online. He said: “These aren’t isolated incidents. It’s daily! This is what I get for posting and talking about Black Lives Matter. The taunting is terrifying.”