Wife Carlie led Louis out of the dark and gave him his fire back
Dundee United striker Louis Moult admits his wife stopped him from quitting the game.
He went through dark times when it seemed he couldn’t overcome injury problems.
But he is now back in love with football and hopes to agree a new contract with the Tangerines that will see him lead their attack in the Premiership next term.
Moult only managed 21 appearances in three seasons between 2020 and 2023 and often wondered if he should hang up his boots.
He admits the constant struggle to get fit at Preston North End, Burton Albion and during a loan spell at Motherwell was getting him down.
It prompted a heart-to-heart with wife Carlie.
“I wasn’t the same person and I stopped believing in myself,” he said. “I thought I was done. I was in a dark place and really struggled.
“Countless times, my wife and I spoke about it. I looked her in the eye and said, ‘Am I done here? Am I going to have to retire?’
“Thankfully, I have her supporting me all the way, through the good and the bad.
“She said no, I should stick with it and I still had time.
“I’m so grateful for that because I was close to giving up. That’s probably why I still have the fire in my belly to succeed and score goals.
“If she’d said I was done, I think I’d have had to retire. It was getting to the point where I couldn’t go three or four weeks staying fit.
“When you can’t put your finger on why and nobody has any answers, I can’t tell you how frustrating it is.
“I had become a different person and was snappier than I should have been. She put up with me throughout that time.
“It’s only when you get past it that you realise you weren’t yourself.
“We’ve been together a long time, and she understands me. She knows I live for football and always have done.”
Moult’s performances over the last 10 months have seen him on a four-player shortlist for PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year.
He has loved working with Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin and credits him for being able to play almost 40 times this season.
He said: “It’s a combination of me knowing when to work and when to rest. I have an understanding with the manager about how to manage my minutes and my training load.
“The other lads might be doing slightly more, but he’ll let me rest at times and that’s why I’ve been able to be available for the majority of the season.
“The respect level the manager and I have is huge.
“From the minute I spoke to him, I was sold. He’s a people person.”
United have secured the Championship title and bounced back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
Moult signed a one-year deal when he arrived at Tannadice last summer.
He would love to extend his stay and talks are ongoing about a new contract.
“You have to speak to my agent about that,” he said.
“There’s still a bit of time to go, so it’s all quite fresh.
“I’ve said all the way through that I’ve loved playing for Dundee United, so we’ll see what happens.
“I’m really excited about next season. “United have a good understanding with me and I’ve got a good understanding with them. You just click.
“I had a good understanding at Motherwell and Wrexham, and it seems I have the same here.”