Ex_Mansfield Town keeper Ian Deakin looks back on an injury that almost killed him

Former Stags keeper Ian Deakin's footballing career was hampered and blighted by injury – with one of them almost killing him.
Ian Deakin the manager.Ian Deakin the manager.
Ian Deakin the manager.

“I don't believe I ever had an injury-free season apart from when I was young and coming through the youth system,” he said. “That is when you're at your fittest.

“I've had some horrific ones to be honest.

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“The most recent one with my knee ultimately ended my career.

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“I had nine operations on my right knee and had sepsis twice. It nearly killed me.

“I was in hospital about three months and they had to reverse the operation. I was in a bad way with that.

“It was a cruciate ligament injury that went wrong and ended up finishing my career. It got infected and they could not get rid of the infection. It was a torrid time.

“I have also snapped my Achille's tendon as well – they are probably two of the worst injuries you could have late on in your career. But there's not much I have not had and most of it later on.”

FOR DEAKIN’S DELIGHT ON REJOINING STAGS CLICK HERE

FOR DEAKIN’S AMBITION TO MANAGE IN THE EFL CLICK HERE

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Deakin believes joining Stags in 2013 proved too much for his body.

“The start of it was probably when I came to Mansfield,” he said.

“The demands of coming back into full time football and the pressure that puts on your body told on me at 28.

“I had done some hard yards in the non-league as well and taken some bangs.

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“But I don't regret anything. I had a good career, won a lot of things, and was successful. I have had some great experiences.

“But injuries are something that have blighted me from my early 20s and I never really playing 100 per cent fit.”

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