In a candid interview with BBC Sport, Barcelona and England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck revealed the terrifying details of the stroke she suffered in 2024 that nearly cost her both her eyesight and her soccer career. The 25-year-old opened up about the harrowing experience, her challenging road to recovery, and how she found strength in the support of friends, family, and fellow athletes who had faced similar ordeals.
A Shocking Diagnosis
Roebuck first noticed troubling symptoms in December 2023 while still playing for Manchester City. She experienced dizziness, fatigue, balance issues, and impaired vision, which were initially attributed to a concussion from being struck by a ball in training. However, a head scan revealed a far more serious diagnosis: a left occipital infarct, a type of stroke caused by a clogged artery in the brain.
“He sat me down and was like, ‘you’ve had an infarct in your left occipital lobe’. I asked ‘what’s that in English?’ And then he said it was a type of stroke.”
– Ellie Roebuck
Facing the Fear of Blindness
The young goalkeeper was told that she was incredibly lucky to have not lost her vision, as most people who suffer this type of stroke experience at least partial blindness. Roebuck admitted that this news filled her with panic and fear, as the prospect of never playing soccer again or even losing her eyesight entirely was devastating.
“I’m lucky because I should have lost my vision,” she said. “I should have lost my peripheral vision for sure. The majority of people that suffer a stroke [like mine] do that. So, I probably should have been blind, which is quite a miracle that that didn’t happen.”
– Ellie Roebuck
A Difficult Recovery
Following her diagnosis, Roebuck was banned from training for 12 weeks and became scared to do anything on her own. She stopped leaving her house and relied on her parents to take turns living with her in Manchester. Further tests revealed a hole in her heart, but when she underwent surgery, doctors found that a membrane had formed and covered it up.
Throughout this challenging time, Roebuck found support from unexpected sources. She connected with NFL Super Bowl winner Tedy Bruschi, who had suffered two strokes himself, and former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, who had experienced a serious head injury in 2006.
“I had a call with him [Cech] for about two hours and it was amazing. Although it wasn’t directly the same, it was someone I could relate to going through a similar thing,” Roebuck said. “He touched on things that nobody else got. No matter how many times I tried to express myself, I couldn’t. Nobody could relate to what I was going through.”
– Ellie Roebuck on her conversation with Petr Cech
Triumphant Return
Nearly a year after her stroke, Roebuck made her long-awaited return to the pitch in December 2024, playing for Barcelona against Real Betis. The goalkeeper had signed a pre-contract with the Spanish giants just weeks before her diagnosis, and the club stood by her throughout her recovery.
Roebuck’s story serves as an inspiration to athletes and non-athletes alike, demonstrating the power of resilience, support, and determination in the face of unimaginable adversity. Her journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of never giving up, even when faced with the most daunting of challenges.
As she continues to shine on the field for both Barcelona and the England national team, Ellie Roebuck stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance, courage, and the unwavering support of those around us.
