Dejan Kulusevski Reveals He Feared His Football Career Was Over During Tottenham Injury Nightmare
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has opened up about the emotional struggles he experienced during his lengthy injury layoff, admitting that he once feared he might never play professional football again.
The 26-year-old endured a difficult recovery after suffering a serious knee injury against Crystal Palace in May 2025. After more than 17 months away from competitive action, he finally returned to the pitch during Tottenham’s 3-1 victory over Coventry City earlier this month.
In an emotional interview with Tottenham’s official SPURSPLAY platform, the Sweden international revealed just how challenging the experience had been, including a moment when he questioned whether his playing career had reached its end.
Kulusevski’s Injury Turned Into a 17-Month Nightmare
Tottenham confirmed that Kulusevski had undergone surgery on his right patella shortly before their Europa League final against Manchester United.
Initially, there was hope that the midfielder would recover relatively quickly. However, the seriousness of the damage meant his rehabilitation became considerably more complicated than expected.
The injury ruled him out of Tottenham’s European final in Bilbao, where his teammates eventually secured a memorable 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
While Roberto De Zerbi has since praised Kulusevski’s determination and mental strength throughout his rehabilitation, the midfielder’s own account reveals the personal difficulties he faced behind the scenes.
The Spurs manager previously described him as an inspiration to the rest of the squad, highlighting the courage and resilience he demonstrated while dealing with such an unfortunate setback.
De Zerbi believes Kulusevski’s response to adversity offers an important lesson to his teammates, regardless of their individual abilities on the pitch.
Kulusevski Reveals Emotional Conversation With His Mother
One of the most painful moments of Kulusevski’s recovery came during Tottenham’s Europa League celebrations in Bilbao.
Although he travelled to Spain to support his teammates, he was forced to rely on crutches and could not join them on the podium to celebrate their historic achievement.
He was also unable to collect his medal alongside the rest of the squad because he could not safely climb onto the podium.
Reflecting on that experience, Kulusevski admitted that witnessing the celebrations while struggling with his injury was particularly painful.
He explained that seeing everyone celebrating was wonderful, but his own circumstances made it one of the most difficult days of his life.
Being unable to walk properly while his teammates enjoyed one of the biggest moments in the club’s recent history left him feeling isolated.
His concerns eventually became so serious that he sat down with his mother and prepared her for the possibility that he might never return to football.
Kulusevski revealed that he told her he was beginning to believe his recovery might not succeed and that he needed to prepare her for the possibility of his career ending.
It was a devastating admission from a player who had previously been an important part of Tottenham’s attacking setup.
The Extent of His Knee Damage Was Worse Than Expected
Kulusevski also explained how the injury occurred during Tottenham’s encounter with Crystal Palace.
According to the midfielder, the initial pain did not seem particularly alarming. However, he later discovered that the damage to his knee was much more serious than he had realised.
He explained that his knee felt unusually unstable and that the injury had affected the cartilage.
Medical scans subsequently revealed that a piece of cartilage had become displaced within his knee, creating a complicated problem that could not simply be repaired.
The discovery helped explain why his recovery proved so challenging and why returning to the pitch took considerably longer than initially anticipated.
For a professional footballer whose career depends heavily on movement, balance and physical performance, the uncertainty surrounding his knee presented an enormous challenge.
Kulusevski Credits His Wife for Supporting Him Through His Darkest Days
Throughout the difficult rehabilitation process, Kulusevski received crucial support from his wife, Eldina.
The Tottenham midfielder spoke warmly about her contribution, describing her as his idol and praising the way she managed family responsibilities while helping him cope with the emotional strain of his injury.
He explained that she had witnessed his struggles more closely than anyone else because they were together throughout the difficult period.
Kulusevski also expressed admiration for how she cared for their children while supporting him during his recovery.
Her presence became particularly important during the moments when his confidence was at its lowest and he struggled to imagine a successful return to professional football.
Despite the uncertainty, her support helped him continue pushing forward.
The Moment Kulusevski Finally Believed He Could Return
A major turning point came when Kulusevski returned to Sweden to continue his rehabilitation.
Working alongside a physiotherapist and friends, he began noticing encouraging changes during his exercises.
Movements that had previously caused him pain suddenly became easier, giving him hope that his knee was finally responding to treatment.
The midfielder recalled being surprised when exercises that had hurt the previous day no longer caused the same discomfort.
As the improvement continued, he realised that his recovery might finally be moving in the right direction.
Kulusevski immediately shared the encouraging development with his wife, telling her that he believed they could overcome the challenge.
Although some pain remained, he felt he was gradually regaining control of his leg.
That breakthrough gave him renewed motivation to continue working towards his return.
Tottenham Comeback Takes on New Meaning After His Retirement Admission
Kulusevski eventually made his long-awaited competitive comeback as a substitute during Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Coventry City on October 19.
The appearance marked his first competitive outing since suffering the knee injury against Crystal Palace in May 2025, ending a spell of more than 17 months on the sidelines.
Tottenham supporters welcomed him back enthusiastically, making the occasion an emotional moment for both the player and the club.
However, his recent revelations have given that comeback an even deeper significance.
What might otherwise have been viewed as the return of an important attacking midfielder was, in reality, the culmination of an exhausting personal battle during which he feared he might never play again.
For De Zerbi, the priority will now be helping Kulusevski rebuild his fitness and gradually return to regular first-team football.
Given the complexity of his injury and the length of his absence, Tottenham are unlikely to benefit from rushing him back before he is ready.
Kulusevski’s story highlights the mental challenges professional footballers can face when serious injuries threaten their careers.
Having overcome months of uncertainty and moments of genuine fear, the Swedish international will now be hoping to put the nightmare behind him and make a significant contribution to Tottenham’s campaign.
