‘I went from Euros hero to a football streaker after joining a cult’: Former Denmark star opens up on his battle with depression in new autobiography

A former Euros winner has opened up on his battle with depression after quitting football and joining a cult.

The ex-footballer enjoyed a 12-year playing career that saw him play for Randers, Brondby and Odense in his homeland of Denmark, while also featuring for Feyenoord and Luton Town.

He opted to hang up his boots in 1993 – one year after unexpectedly winning Euro 1992 with Denmark – which led to him suffering from depression as he struggled to come to terms with the end of his career.

In his new autobiography The Unhappy Hero, Lars Elstrup, 61, revealed how his depression got so bad that it prevented him from showering.

‘At one point, I had grass coming out of the shower drain,’ he claimed.

Elstrup (pictured) was part of the Denmark squad that pulled off a major shock to win Euro 92

Elstrup scored in the group stages and converted his penalty in the semi-final shootout as Denmark upset the odds

He also stated that his life spiralled out of control over a 15-year period as he joined a cult, changed his name to Darando after finding an Indian guru, got arrested and stripped naked to run onto the pitch during a Danish league match in 2016.

Elstrup interrupted the game between Randers and Silkeborg by invading the pitch with no clothes on.

After witnessing the club’s former player streaking, Randers president Michael Gravgaard said: ‘It’s very sad to see him like this, he’s one of the heroes of this city’.

Elstrup sealed his status as a national hero by playing a key role in Denmark’s stunning Euros triumph 32 years ago.

He featured in two matches at the tournament, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against France in the group stages and then converting his penalty in the shootout win over the Netherlands in the semi-finals.

Elstrup was an unused substitute in the final when Denmark beat Germany 2-0, and admitted in his autobiography that he was glad he did not play as he was overcome with the fear of failure.

‘It all started two days before the final. Up until then I was really looking forward to playing in the four previous matches, even being in the starting line-up,’ he wrote.

Elstrup has opened up on his battle with depression in his new autobiography, and admitted he did not want to play in the Euro 92 final due to the fear of failure

‘But something changed and there was no way I wanted to play in the final… I was afraid of being a failure.’

Denmark’s 1992 victory remains one of football’s biggest international shocks, and Elstrup was a major part of their success.

He has endured some very difficult times since, but now believes he has turned a corner over the past couple of years.

‘I am stronger than ever,’ he insisted in his new book.

‘I divided my life into phases and this last phase has now lasted for more than two years.’