Football Raphaël Varane
“So tired that I wanted to slap myself” – United professional describes the consequences of his headers
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Raphaël Varane (r.) became world champion and won the Champions League four times. To do this, he risked his health in some games, as he now explained
Quelle: picture alliance/dpa/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/Andrew Yates
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Raphaël Varane won countless titles with his clubs and the French national team. Now the defender reports on the health consequences of his missions. The 30-year-old describes worrying symptoms.
Raphaël Varane has probably made thousands of headers in his career as a footballer. However, not without consequences. In an interview, the Manchester United defender described the impact of multiple concussions during his career. The 30-year-old states that he has “damaged his body” and describes the symptoms impressively.
Varane told French newspaper L’Equipe that he played numerous games for both his clubs and France in which he struggled with the effects of head injuries. He wants to raise awareness of an issue he believes is underrepresented in modern football.
The former France international, who ended his international career in February 2023, revealed that he suffered a concussion in the round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup against Nigeria. He finished the game on “autopilot”. “If someone had spoken to me in the game back then, I don’t know if I would have been able to react,” remembers Varane.
Head first: Raphaël Varane in a duel with Erling Haaland, who goes towards the ball without considering losses
Quelle: AP/Dave Thompson
During his time at Real Madrid he also stood on the pitch with symptoms of a head injury. “Following an incident in the league game against Getafe, I played in the Champions League against Manchester City five days later,” said Varane, who said he had felt unusual fatigue before the game. “When I was warming up, I felt so tired that I almost wanted to slap myself.”
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According to his own statements, the consequences of his concussions are also affecting him in the current season. He missed a few games for Manchester United because he suffered from “micro-injuries” caused by headers. He also feels migraine pain and eye fatigue at times.
Varane added that the culture of men’s football contributes to head injuries not being talked about much. “As footballers who play at the highest level, we are used to pain, we are a bit like soldiers, tough guys, symbols of physical strength, but these symptoms are almost invisible.” When a professional suffers a head injury, they “immediately feel weak, when you say you’re tired.”
Substitution after concussion
In the long term, Varane expects health consequences from the shocks caused by headers. “Even if they do not cause immediate trauma, we now know that repeated impacts are very likely to have damaging effects in the long term,” warns the United professional. “I don’t know if I’ll live to be 100, but I know I’ve damaged my body.”
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Medicine now knows that repeated concussions can cause brain injuries and lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a brain disease that can cause a range of negative symptoms as it progresses. These include symptoms such as cognitive deficits, personality and behavioral changes and movement disorders.
The protocol set by the English Football Association states that a player suspected of having a concussion must be taken off the pitch immediately, whether in training or during a match.