Jesse Lingard — English professional footballer who came through Manchester United's academy from age seven, played for England, and moved to Nottingham Forest after leaving Old Trafford.
The gist
Jesse Lingard speaks with Steven Bartlett about growing up at Manchester United, his demanding power-lifter grandfather, and his mother's lifelong battle with depression. He details his own mental health crisis when his mother was hospitalized in 2019 and he became carer for his younger siblings while masking depression on the pitch. He gives an insider account of why United declined after Sir Alex Ferguson, contrasting the lost culture and outdated facilities with the man-management of Ferguson, Mourinho and Gareth Southgate. He closes on his move to Nottingham Forest, his media company One Touch, and ambitions to act in Hollywood.
Big reveals
- Lingard's grandfather was banned from games for going onto the pitch to tell 12-year-old Jesse he was 'not fit to wear a shirt' and had him lifting weights at age 10.
- His mother quit gymnastics because his grandfather, a power lifter for Great Britain, was so hard on her.
- In 2019 his mother was hospitalized for severe depression, leaving Jesse as primary carer for his 11-year-old sister and 15-year-old brother.
- After a Derby win, United fans abused Lingard from the bus, which tipped him over the edge mentally while he was secretly battling depression.
- John Murtough blocked his Newcastle loan, then asked if he wanted days off; Lingard took two days off and the media falsely reported he had requested them.
- Lingard says West Ham did not show him the love or respect in contract negotiations, which is why he chose newly promoted Nottingham Forest.
- Asked for one wish to fix United, he points to outdated facilities and the club being behind on everything from training grounds to social media content.
Things worth remembering
- The episode marks Diary of a CEO hitting one million YouTube subscribers.
- Lingard's United youth team included Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison.
- Lingard did not get his real first-team break until he was 23-24, under Louis van Gaal.
- He scored on his Champions League start at CSKA Moscow in minus-five conditions, told not to wear gloves per United tradition.
- To cope with depression he was drinking and 'nightcapping' before bed to take the pain away.
- He pitched the club on doing YouTube and content, saying they were behind on the social side of things.
- His media company is called One Touch, named after the one-touch football he played with his grandfather.
- His Channel 4 documentary was made by his own production company One Touch.
- Lingard wants to move into acting after football, starting with comedy, and eventually base himself in LA.