Former Germany star Magull reveals mental health struggles – DW – 06/11/2025
The former Germany player says she has recovered her passion both for football and life — and credits a psychiatric-clinic stay with helping her recover from depression.
Inter Milan midfielder Linda Magull told the latest edition of the "Wie geht's?" (How are you?) podcast that she now feels much better and is happy, a year after she reached rock bottom in a severe bout of depression.
Speaking publicly about the matter for the first time, she told host Robin Goosens that both sporting and personal reasons were behind her descent into depression, which came to a head last summer.
"I wouldn't have had a problem with dying," Magull said of the period when she reached rock bottom.
In sporting terms, Magull had gone from the pinnacle of her international football career, winning silver with Germany at the 2022 Euros in England, to an embarrassing elimination in the group stage of the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand one summer later.
At the same time, the now 30-year-old midfielder found herself falling down the pecking order somewhat at her then-club, Bayern Munich. Changes in personal relationships exacerbated the situation.
"I was totally confused and didn't know what to do with myself," she said.
Lina Magull scored Germany's only goal in the Euro 2022 Final against England Image: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa/picture alliance
Serie A move fails to help
In January, 2024, she moved to Inter Milan, but that seems to have served only to make matters worse.
"I fled Munich, but after a few weeks, I missed it terribly. I thought I'd lost everything," she said.
"I started sweating, I started having panic attacks. That was the moment when I thought, 'What's wrong with me?'" Magull said.
In the summer of 2024, far from heading to the Paris Olympic Games with Germany's women's team, as she had once hoped, she took the difficult decision to seek treatment at a private clinic.
"I knew I had to do it because my thoughts had become so out of control that I no longer saw any meaning in life.
She spent six weeks in therapy at the clinic before returning to Inter, having rediscovered her passion for both football and life in general.
"The months before, that wasn't me. The depression simply took over my personality. You need treatment, you need therapy."
Looking forward to the Champions League
In March 2025, Magull announced her retirement from the national team after 77 international matches and 22 goals.
"I want to focus even more on club football and have more time to pursue other things," Magull said.
Now she is looking forward to another season at Inter, whose women have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history. Still, she remains proudest of the difficult decision she took last summer to enter treatment at the psychiatric clinic.
"That's the thing I'm most proud of, no matter what or how many titles I've won. I'm proud that I went to this private clinic, but especially how I left," she said.
*Editor's note: If you are suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, at this website: https://www.befrienders.org/
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
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The former Germany player says she has recovered her passion both for football and life — and credits a psychiatric-clinic stay with helping her recover from depression. Inter Milan midfielder Linda Magull told the latest edition of the "Wie geht's?" (How are you?) podcast that she now feels much better and is happy, a year after she reached rock bottom in a severe bout of depression. Speaking publicly about the matter for the first time, she told host Robin Goosens that both sporting and personal reasons were behind her descent into depression, which came to a head last summer. "I wouldn't have had a problem with dying," Magull said of the period when she reached rock bottom. In sporting terms, Magull had gone from the pinnacle of her international football career, winning silver with Germany at the 2022 Euros in England, to an embarrassing elimination in the group stage of the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand one summer later. At the same time, the now 30-year-old midfielder found herself falling down the pecking order somewhat at her then-club, Bayern Munich. Changes in personal relationships exacerbated the situation. "I was totally confused and didn't know what to do with myself," she said. Lina Magull scored Germany's only goal in the Euro 2022 Final against England Image: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa/picture alliance Serie A move fails to help In January, 2024, she moved to Inter Milan, but that seems to have served only to make matters worse. "I fled Munich, but after a few weeks, I missed it terribly. I thought I'd lost everything," she said. "I started sweating, I started having panic attacks. That was the moment when I thought, 'What's wrong with me?'" Magull said. In the summer of 2024, far from heading to the Paris Olympic Games with Germany's women's team, as she had once hoped, she took the difficult decision to seek treatment at a private clinic. "I knew I had to do it because my thoughts had become so out of control that I no longer saw any meaning in life. She spent six weeks in therapy at the clinic before returning to Inter, having rediscovered her passion for both football and life in general. "The months before, that wasn't me. The depression simply took over my personality. You need treatment, you need therapy." Looking forward to the Champions League In March 2025, Magull announced her retirement from the national team after 77 international matches and 22 goals. "I want to focus even more on club football and have more time to pursue other things," Magull said. Now she is looking forward to another season at Inter, whose women have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history. Still, she remains proudest of the difficult decision she took last summer to enter treatment at the psychiatric clinic. "That's the thing I'm most proud of, no matter what or how many titles I've won. I'm proud that I went to this private clinic, but especially how I left," she said. *Editor's note: If you are suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, at this website: Edited by: Wesley Dockery
