From Real Madrid Star to Warehouse Worker: My Journey Through Bankruptcy and Depression for Just £330 a Month

FORMER Real Madrid player Predrag Spasic was once on a path to greatness.

However, after facing battles with depression and going bankrupt, he found himself working in a warehouse for a mere £330 a month.

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At 59 years old, Spasic comes from Serbia, which was once part of Yugoslavia, and was regarded as a potential world-class centre-back.

He gained recognition in his native country playing for Partizan Belgrade.

In 1990, he made a thrilling move to Real Madrid.

Unfortunately, his time at the Bernabeu didn’t go as planned.

During his one season with Real, he made only 22 appearances.

Spasic gained notoriety for scoring a crucial own-goal in their 2-1 Clasico loss to their fierce rivals Barcelona.

This moment continues to haunt him, as Spasic reflects: “One bad game changed everything. My life took a turn after facing Barcelona at Camp Nou.”

“I never intended to score an own goal; it was a nightmare. I remember that moment vividly. The ball struck me and rolled into the net; I felt like disappearing.”

“Camp Nou defined my fate as a player. The chants of ‘Spasic, Spasic’ from the Barcelona supporters still ring in my ears.”

He then spent three more seasons in Spain playing for Osasuna.

However, his time there ended with the club’s relegation in 1994.

Spasic played just 13 more matches before his career dwindled with Atletico Marbella and Radnicki Beograd.

He also earned 31 caps representing Yugoslavia internationally.

Ultimately, his career came to an end in 1997 at the age of 32.

Spasic later faced bankruptcy after making poor investments in a business venture that failed due to the Yugoslav wars.

This led him to take a job in a warehouse, earning only £330 a month.

I lived in silence, I locked myself away.

Predrag Spasic

At that time, he expressed: “I’m in a tough position, needing financial assistance. Each day is a struggle. It requires strength to get through it all.”

Spasic fell into a deep depression soon after.

Fortunately, he has been recovering thanks to support from a group for ex-footballers, and reports suggest that Real Madrid also offered him help.

Spasic shared: “I struggled with depression for a decade, battling through many difficult experiences in my life.”

“With support from my family, my brother Bojan, and a kind doctor, I was able to find stability and recover from my depression.”

He went on to say: “Today, I feel content and proud. In hindsight, perhaps that was my mistake — not sharing my struggles. Everything that transpired deeply affected me, and I isolated myself from others.

“Returning to my homeland, I faced profound sadness. Good friends stood by me during my darkest days, and with the guidance of psychologists, I found a way out.”

“It was all-encompassing — a series of misfortunes that ultimately led me to a breaking point.”