The lost career of Matt Jansen

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Matt Jansen uncovered

Once a teenage starlet with Carlisle United coveted by the top flight's biggest clubs, the career of striker Matt Jansen sadly never quite fulfilled the potential it once seemed to promise.

However the case of Jansen does not follow the usual fall from grace suffered by many tipped talents.

Following a switch to Crystal Palace in 1998 for £1m, the Wetheral-born forward had earned rave reviews during a spell with Blackburn Rovers, who paid £4.1m for him a season later.

Such form, and goals - 47 in three seasons at Ewood Park - propelled the playmaker into the plans of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, and became a target for bosses such as Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United - who he had turned down to join Palace four years previous.

However having missed out on England's 2002 World Cup squad, Jansen's career was to take a dramatic turn, when he suffered a road traffic accident while on holiday in the Italian capital of Rome.

I was my own worst critic, and everyone would say there was nothing wrong, but I felt there was and I was my own demise really Matt Jansen

The accident would prove to be a pivotal moment in the career of the talented Cumbrian, who was never able to fully return to the form he showed prior to the incident.

"I was in a coma for six days, from then on I was trying to rebuild my career," Jansen told BBC Late Kick Off.

"With head injuries you suffer depressions, and all kinds of problems, then it was basic co-ordination, and it was a slow process.

"It was tearing me apart, I had sleepless nights, frustration, depression, and you get to a stage where you think there is no point continuing this battle.

"I had psychologists, psychiatrists, all kinds of medical staff at Blackburn who were unbelievable and very supportive, and Graeme Souness was very supportive and helped me along.

"I had comebacks, scored goals, and was in and out, but I couldn't fully get that confidence I have prior to the accident.

"I was my own worst critic, and everyone would say there was nothing wrong, but I felt there was and I was my own demise really."

Jansen (right) was called up for England training but never won a cap

Having finally hung up his boots on a full-time basis with a spell at Wrexham in the Blue Square Premier last season, Jansen - still just 32 - is currently a player-coach with Unibond Premier side Leigh Genesis, working for former Rovers team-mate Garry Flitcroft.

And while the striker now has another source of income from regular employment, and has ruled out a return to the professional game as a player, the desire to remain in football in some capacity remains as strong as ever.

"I trade foreign currencies, which has been interesting," he said.

"It doesn't give you the same buzz as playing football, the same excitement, the same adrenaline rush or the same pressures.

"I could have gone to clubs in the Championship playing-wise, but I've put that to bed really, it was more the 'next step' I was looking at, getting into coaching and management.

"I'm physically fine, but I've moved on and hopefully I can become a successful coach or manager."