- Manchester City star is in a much better spot now
Mary Fowler should be applauded for her ‘courageous’ willingness to open up about her mental health, says Matildas coach Joe Montemurro – who is concerned about what her ordeal says about the plight of the modern sports star.
Fowler, 22, is set for a January return from her ACL tear suffered in April.
The Aussie football star recently released her book ‘Bloom’, where she detailed struggling with her mental health, self-harming and experiencing suicidal thoughts during her time at French club Montpellier as a teenager – and her coach has weighed in on her struggles.
‘We need to applaud the fact that she’s been able to face those issues … it’s so courageous to talk about these things and to come up with it,’ Montemurro said on Monday.
‘And the fact that she’s been able to deal with these issues, I think, is all credit to her, it’s amazing.
‘I suppose it’s a little bit of a sign of the pressures that professional athletes and professional sports people are under these days, that there are challenges.
Mary Fowler (pictured with a copy of her new memoir Bloom) has been able to overcome a raft of mental health challenges
Fowler played 40 matches for Montpellier (pictured) – but struggled significantly across her stint in France
‘The more we talk about it, the more it’s out in the open, the more that we’re honest about it, I think is amazing.’
‘This is a perfect example of someone that’s been really courageous and been able to come out with her issues, deal with it and know that there are people behind her, backing her and want to do what’s best for her.’
The coach also stressed the importance of ‘constant contact’ with his players, who he has visited at their clubs.
‘The biggest thing that we can do as FA and the people supporting these players is to just be there if they need, to talk to them, if they need something … we’re there to help them,’ he said.
‘That’s the most important message that we’ve been trying to send as FA and as the Matildas coach, to make sure that they have the support that they need not just when they’re here in camp, but also off camp.’
Fowler joined the Matildas last camp in a training capacity but will remain with Manchester City for the upcoming window in Australia as she nears her return.
‘We’ve said it all along – she actually could have probably come back after seven months and she’s doing really, really well,’ Montemurro said.
‘It’s amazing. Obviously being in the City environment and us monitoring it and her coming into camp last time was perfect.
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro (pictured) has hailed Fowler for baring her soul
The 22-year-old (pictured with NRL star boyfriend Nathan Cleary) has turned to family and friends to help her put the horrible episode behind her
‘But in all credit to her and to City and to the medical staff, we’ve decided to just hold on a little bit more and just give it that little bit more time.’
‘Because you’re going into the Christmas break … and then to start up again, is probably the logical thing to do – to hold her off until after Christmas and then I’m sure she’ll be right for the Asian Cup (in March).
‘Obviously the calendar in Europe is quite full, so there are opportunities to play, and let’s see how strategic they are in managing her minutes.
‘But it looks like she will get a fairly good runway into the Asian Cup.’
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