Jermaine Pennant reveals being given a life-changing diagnosis weeks after being declared bankrupt, talking bout it all in an interview.
The former Premier League footballer, who also played in the EFL and in non league, has opened up on Good Morning Britain, chatting with Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard.
His career as a retired winger was marred by controversy after he had a falling out with Rafael Benitez (then-Reds’ manager) during turbulent times on Merseyside.
He was diagnosed in September with Attention Deficit HyperActivity Disorder (ADHD). This has helped him to understand the difficulties he has had throughout his life.
‘It’s life-changing.’
At the age of just 15 @pennant83 was a rising star and he went on to sign for Liverpool. But off the pitch, Jermaine was struggling. What he didn’t know then but knows now is that he had ADHD.
Jemaine talks about how the diagnosis changed his life. pic.twitter.com/ddvMAaBwRU
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) January 20, 2023
‘The problem for anyone who’s an adult is getting the diagnosis and the length of time they’re waiting. If I refer a patient for ADHD symptoms they could be waiting 2-3 years before they even see anyone.’
The ADHD Foundation reports a 400% rise in adults seeking a diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/VCAOVG1uN9
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) January 20, 2023
He said: “It is lifechanging because I would ask myself so many questions over the years.
“Why do I leave destruction in my path? How have I got myself in certain situations? I just thought it was down to me being a lunatic or just not well or having serious issues. But not actually identifying what they were so I was just round in the circles making the same mistake and telling myself I know I’m not a bad person, but why am I doing this?”
Stats revealed a 400% rise in adults finding out more about having an ADHD diagnosis, with Pennant saying his ADHD developed as a way of survival during a difficult childhood as he shared some of the symptoms associated with the condition.
He went on: “Now I understand why I would fall out with managers. I understand why TV bosses wouldn’t come near me because they think I can’t be trusted. But if I, or other people, knew I had ADHD they would understand because having ADHD means you take risks.
“You have no consideration of danger, you have no consequences for other people, you are forgetful, when things are getting stressful or you can’t cope, you will seek any validation, which could put yourself in danger. You don’t think about work. You are regardless of any form of emotion as well.”
Pennant, who now works in punditry, said: “I’m not making excuses. I take full accountability but it would have made a lot of relationships work and a lot of things in my life a lot easier.”
Pennant, was declared bankrupt “with debts of more than £1million”, allegedly owes money to creditors, including HMRC and utility companies among others.
Birmingham County Court issued Pennant a one year bankruptcy order for a number outstanding bills related to Jermaine Pennant Limited. In 2020, the company was dissolved.
Pennant was a Notts County youth player before being taken up by Arsenal. Pennant went on to play for Liverpool, Stoke City and Birmingham City. He made more than 400 appearances during his club career.
He was a part of the Champions League final at Liverpool and in the FA Cup final at Stoke. His playing days were not without controversy. He was forced to wear an electronic tag in 2005 against Tottenham Hotspur because he had been convicted of drink driving.
Pennant acknowledged that he had made mistakes during his 15-year career.
The video below is of him talking about his past, four years ago…
He said via The Sun: “In all honesty, I could have been a billionaire and still f***ed it up.
“I have made so many mistakes but I did not know how to deal with things and would not think of the consequences of my actions.
“I have been labelled a bad-boy but, in reality, I was just an insecure kid who did not know what he was doing.”
“I bought houses but never spoke to an estate agent and had mortgages that I did not know about.
“I took bad advice from bad people and just lived day to day.
“There was a fixer who arranged things for me — but now I realise he swindled me out of money.
“He advised me to buy the house in Hale for well over the odds and then to do a load of building work on it. But I wasn’t paying the builders, I was paying him.
“That sort of thing happened to me wherever I went.
“I would also go out and spend money on tables at nightclubs and not worry about it.
“We did two trips to Las Vegas; and on the first one I picked up a bar bill of $30,000 (£25,000) for my mates — I did not even know what was being ordered.
“I invested in horses and properties and have lost all the money.
“I dread to think what the total would be but I guess it would be more than £10million.”
“The bankruptcy did not happen overnight. It came from years of bad decisions and ignoring things.
“We disputed the tax bill and I still do not know what it is for.
“But that is the thing that led to the bankruptcy more than anything else. I had no idea what I was earning and what was coming out of my account.
“Because of my ADHD, I would just ignore things and bury my head in the sand, even forgetting I owned a house.”
Pennant, who lives with girlfriend Jess Impiazzi, insisted he was “happier than ever” after his bankruptcy and looking to the future.
Jermaine Pennant is just truly a truly vile human being. Hilarious that he has gone from a Champions League final to Jeremy Kyle show in 11 years pic.twitter.com/71MZTSw1jH
— Gully Burrows (@gully_burrows) October 19, 2018
He continued: “It is not an ideal situation being made bankrupt — but it means I can rebuild my life and make a fresh start.”
“I came from a rough council estate and became a ‘wonderkid’ when I was 15. I had no education really and knew nothing about finances and money.
“No one at Arsenal helped me — they just stuck me in digs with a family. I would go training, go home and then be left to my own devices and hangers-on.
“I developed an ego and had no self-worth so tried to gain it by showing I had money.
“The thing I am most ashamed of is the drink-driving.
“I also regret what I said in the book — and regret writing it. It was another case of taking bad advice, and of not thinking of the consequences because of ADHD.
“My agent Sky Andrew suffered during these periods because he was trying to make me listen to good advice but I was on the fast train to destruction”.
“I thought everything would be OK but Ashley was not happy although we are still friends now.
“I also regret going on Big Brother and don’t think that was a great decision for me.
“I would do things without discussing it with anyone, I would hide stuff from my agent who was constantly getting me out of trouble.
“Maybe the fact that Sky kept finding a way sort things out helped me think I was invincible.”
You can expect to see Pennant on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins with ex-Health Secretary Matt Hancock and a few other familiar names later this year.
He concluded: “If I could say one thing to young players, it would be: Make sure you get help, good advice and are surrounded by decent people.”
Viewers gave their thoughts as Jermaine Pennant reveals his life-changing diagnosis weeks after being declared bankrupt…
@Rachael57354278: I’m glad he’s being diagnosed but what about all the poor children wait for a diagnosis? My son is only allowed to go to school from 9 till 10.30am whilst we wait for a diagnosis. He’s 6 years old and missing out on his education and socialising 😢
@mrsjbutler: Well done Jermaine for speaking, so brave
@olliebrown89: Perfect excuse for acting like a prat your entire life
@NomadMajor: I’m a little younger than Jermaine Pennant and I was diagnosed at 12 or 13 years old I had to see 2 different specialists to get a diagnosis back then. It was very difficult to get a diagnosis because it was rare, I’m 36 now, it is not easy for people with ADHD.
@yorkshirelassr8: So to all them that drink drive or get locked up through their years, it’s ok because it might be ADHD let’s all get a diagnosis and pay outs. 😡
@Katy_mo: Wait time for an ASD or ADHD assessment for adults in my area is 4+ years, any help outside that is non-existent. The world isn’t made for us but at the same time won’t help us either. Its soul destroying.
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