Eric de Oliveira delighted Romanians with his spectacular style for years, but the infectious smile from the Brazilian’s face disappeared after his forced retirement from football, he struggled with serious health problems.

Eric de Oliveira is struggling with depression after his football career ended

The best foreign scorer in the history of Romanian football (66 goals in 222 matches) was supposed to end his career in 2021, and now he told Gazeta Sporturilor in an interview that he suffers from depression and that his leg may be amputated. future.

“Everyone knows the smiling Eric, but it was hard to be Eric for a while. Phew, a lot has accumulated. I fell into depression! Because of how I quit football. I was surprised…

I expected to go to the doctor and then go back to football, but that didn’t happen. The doctor put a stent in my leg and from that moment I couldn’t play anymore! That was the end. Now, for example, I can’t even walk 50 meters because my legs hurt and swell. When I realized I couldn’t play football anymore, I got depressed!

Only family can help me! The family was the support that kept me… My wife suffered a lot during this period. Many of those I considered friends have forgotten me. We are moving forward, there are no problems, that’s all” – Eric de Oliveiraquoted by GSP.

An uncertain diagnosis: his left leg may be amputated

“It’s strange that the doctors don’t know, they just say that I have a blocked artery. I have already been uncorked three times. Then they told me that I have thrombophlebitis, my blood thickens and I need to take anticoagulants.

Unfortunately, I don’t see any results, no improvements. I spent a lot of money on doctors. Pay, pay, pay, and I’m in this worse condition! I was going to a match in Slobozhania and suddenly felt problems with my right leg… I need to go abroad for an examination. See.

If the situation with my left leg worsens in the next period, there is a possibility that it will be amputated! It’s hard… I’m in my own world and sometimes I think it’s better to be alone. I move on, trying not to complain too much. God has given me so much and if this is the road I have to go through to get back, I will go through it!” – Eric de Oliveira.

Health problems and the sudden end of a career

“It’s because of football one hundred percent (without depression)! I was Eric, the biggest foreigner in the history of Romania, and suddenly it was over. I could no longer play, do what I love! I can’t watch my videos, I can’t watch my matches. I can not…

I just feel like I can still be there. It was an abrupt end to a career, and it mattered. I didn’t want it to be the way it was. I wanted to end my career so that the world would come and see me. And I didn’t have that… Now I wouldn’t be able to stay on the field if someone thought about a farewell match. It really affected me!

In order not to lose his leg (which he wants most)! I’m in a lot of pain, it’s unbearable, at five in the morning I can hardly fall asleep… Every day the same problems. Recently, I have been in the hospital twice, the worst was in June of last year, when I had a kidney blockage. It was corrected surgically. Then I came again in October” – Eric de Oliveira.

Eric played in Romania for “Gaz Metan”, “Panduri Tirgu-Giu”, “Viitorul” and FC “Voluntari”, was in Ukraine for “Karpaty” (Lviv), in Saudi Arabia for “Al-Ahly Jeddah” and “Najran” “, wore the T-shirt of the Japanese team “Matsumoto Yamaga”, as well as the Al Markhiya team from Qatar.