"Concealing the Demons" Ex-DFB Star Lina Magull Reveals Her Struggle with Depression
Former Germany national team player Lina Magull is emerging from her bout with depression.
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Lina Magull, former captain of Bayern Munich and German national team vice-champion, unearths her angst-ridden battle with depression.
exuding joy and wit, Magull always projected an aura of unquenchable optimism. But beneath that facade, there lurked a different reality. The footballer finally opened up about her nerve-wracking battle with a "grim depression" in the podcast "How's it Going" alongside her football compatriot Robin Gosens and moderator Nils Straatmann. To her dismay, the illness had forced her for a prolonged spell in a clinic.
Although she was known for her infectious smile, Magull noted that "there were times when things looked drastically different within." In 2024, she candidly admitted, she sought solace in a hospital, initially thinking she was different from the other patients, even contemplating abandoning treatment. However, it wasn't until two weeks into treatment that she accepted the stark truth: "Yes, I have depression, a severe depression, and that's okay."
Encouragingly, her initial dread transformed into a journey of personal growth. With fortitude and determination, she rediscovered her passion for football and returned to the field. Supported by Inter Milan, she reintegrated into the team just two weeks prior to the commencement of the season's first game, culminating in an impressive championship runner-up title for the team.
"Lost Myself in the Role"
Although Magull 's mental turmoil set in much earlier, she acknowledged in hindsight that it was 2018, when she joined Bayern Munich from SC Freiburg, and later became captain in 2020, that the pressures began to fester. As she puts it, "I didn't feel as free as the individual, the player I was, because I got caught up in the role." The weight of expectations—both personal and professional—weighed heavily on her, particularly in the aftermath of Germany’s successful 2022 European Championship performance.
Her performance on the field mirrored her state of mind; satisfaction became elusive, replaced instead by a focus on flaws rather than merits. Playing time diminished, and her presence in the national team waned, despite contributing the interim equalizer in the team’s championship final. Crippled by self-doubt and personal struggles, Magull found herself questioning both her career and her identity as a person.
Help with Depression
The German Depression Help and Suicide Prevention Foundation provides a myriad of help resources for depression on its website, including initial contact points. In crisis situations such as suicidal thoughts, immediate contact with a psychiatric clinic or dialing emergency number 112 is highly recommended. The Social Psychiatric Service offers local assistance for the mentally ill and their families. The Info-Telefon Depression of the Depression Help can be reached toll-free at 0800 - 33 44 533, available during the following hours: Mo, Di, Do 13 to 17 o'clock, Mi and Fr 8.30 to 12.30 o'clock. Beyond these resources, the Network for Mental Health offers various support options for critical times. Lastly, the Federal Association for Burnout and Depression e.V. provides information on self-help groups, counseling services, and more for affected individuals and their loved ones.
Eventually, Magull's passion for football had waned to the point where she could no longer find joy in it. "I didn't know what to do with myself," she confessed. Having resigned as Bayern Munich's captain and voluntarily departing the team the previous summer, Magull's escape ultimately accelerated her illness. "After a few weeks, I missed Munich terribly," she lamented, bewildered by the sudden longing for a place she had attempted to flee.
"Indescribable Panic"
Battles with insomnia, ruminations, and negativity engulfed Magull, resulting in sweat attacks, panic attacks, and a growing sense of despair. As she recounted, "I got to a point where I thought, what's wrong with me? There was no way out. I wondered where I could escape to now?"
Fortunately, she ultimately recognized that continuing her descent was untenable and sought the help she needed at a clinic. Despite her initial apprehension, Magull now acknowledges that her time in treatment was invaluable. She spent six weeks in the clinic and expresses gratitude for the experience today, stating, "I'm really glad I was there."
In her battle with "grim depression," Lina Magull, former German national team vice-champion, utilized vocational training as a tool for personal growth, undergoing mental-health therapy alongside her football rehabilitation. By participating in vocational training programs and seeking help from mental health resources like the German Depression Help and Suicide Prevention Foundation, individuals can not only cope with their struggles but also foster self-growth and rediscover their passion for hobbies like health-and-wellness and science, similar to Magull's journey back to football.
