More than 25 per cent of active professional footballers suffer from depression and anxiety according to FIFPro, the world's player union.

The research conducted by FIFPro Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge also found that rates of depression escalated among retired players.

39 per cent of retired players have depression or problems related to anxiety according to the body which represents over 60,000 professional footballers worldwide and helped French-Algerian footballer and Newstalk Off The Ball interviewee Zahir Belounis in his battle to leave Qatar.

300 current and former players were surveyed with Ireland one of the member unions to assist the process.

To read more about FIFPro's research click here.