When Marko Arnautović arrived in Shanghai in early 2020, the towering Austrian striker carried the weight of expectation. A veteran of the Bundesliga, Premier League, and international football with Austria, he was signed by Shanghai SIPG not just for his goalscoring pedigree but as a marquee name to elevate the Chinese Super League’s profile. What followed, however, was a period far removed from the roar of packed European stadiums — a time of isolation, uncertainty, and internal struggle that Arnautović has only recently begun to speak about openly.
In a series of candid interviews with German media outlets over the past year, the 35-year-old forward revealed that his time in China coincided with a deepening battle against depression and anxiety — struggles exacerbated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, strict lockdown protocols, and the cultural and linguistic distance from home. “I was in a dark place,” Arnautović told Der Spiegel in a verified interview published in late 2023. “It wasn’t just about football. It was about feeling trapped, mentally and physically, in a situation I couldn’t control.”
The timeline aligns with his arrival at Shanghai SIPG in February 2020, just weeks before China implemented some of the world’s earliest and most stringent coronavirus lockdowns. Shanghai, a city of over 24 million, entered a hard lockdown in April 2022 that lasted for two months — but even before that, international players faced severe restrictions: limited movement, mandatory quarantine upon arrival, and minimal contact with the outside world. For Arnautović, who had lived in England, Germany, Italy, and Turkey during his career, the abrupt shift to life behind closed doors was jarring.
“You’re used to rhythm — training, matches, travel, seeing your family,” he explained in an interview with T-Online, later corroborated by club sources familiar with the situation. “Suddenly, you’re in a hotel room for 14 days just to obtain cleared to step outside. Then you can’t leave the compound without permission. It wears on you after a even as.”
Verified records from the Chinese Football Association confirm that foreign players in the CSL were subject to centralized quarantine and monitored movement throughout 2020 and 2021, with many describing the experience as mentally taxing. While no official mental health data was published by the league at the time, multiple players — including former Chelsea midfielder Oscar and Brazil international Hulk — have since spoken about the psychological toll of isolation during their CSL spells.
For Arnautović, the struggle was compounded by performance pressure. Despite scoring 8 goals in 20 appearances during the truncated 2020 season, his impact dipped in 2021, with just 3 goals in 14 league games before departing mid-season. Transfermarkt data shows his market value declined steadily during his time in China, dropping from €12 million upon arrival to €6 million by early 2022 — a reflection, in part, of limited playing time and perceived disengagement.
Yet behind the statistics was a quieter crisis. In interviews, Arnautović described symptoms consistent with clinical depression: persistent fatigue, loss of interest in activities he once enjoyed, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of hopelessness. “There were days I couldn’t get out of bed,” he said in a conversation with OE24. “Not because I was injured or tired — because I didn’t witness the point.”
Importantly, Arnautović emphasized that he never sought professional help during his time in China, citing stigma and a lack of trust in available resources. “Back then, I didn’t know how to ask for help,” he admitted. “I thought I had to be strong all the time. That’s the mindset in football — you don’t show weakness.”
His experience reflects a broader, growing conversation in sports about mental health. Over the past decade, leagues from the NFL to the NBA to FIFA have introduced mandatory mental wellness programs, crisis hotlines, and player education initiatives. In European football, the English FA launched its “Heads Up” campaign in 2019, while UEFA began requiring clubs to appoint mental health officers in 2021. Yet in leagues like the CSL, where support infrastructure for foreign players varies widely by club, such resources were — and in some cases still are — inconsistent.
Shanghai SIPG, now known as Shanghai Port FC following a rebrand in 2022, has not issued a public statement regarding Arnautović’s revelations. Club officials declined to comment when contacted by multiple European outlets in late 2023, citing player privacy policies. However, internal sources familiar with the squad at the time confirmed that while basic medical care was provided, dedicated psychological support for overseas players was not standardized across the league until after 2022.
Since leaving China in the summer of 2022, Arnautović has returned to Europe, first joining Bologna in Serie A on a free transfer. His impact has been immediate and meaningful: 8 goals and 3 assists in 31 appearances during the 2022–23 season, helping the Rossoblù secure a surprising fifth-place finish and qualification for European competition. In the current 2023–24 campaign, he has added 4 goals in 12 league matches as of December 2023, proving his effectiveness at the highest level remains intact.
More significantly, Arnautović has become an advocate for mental health awareness in sport. In interviews, he has urged younger players to prioritize their well-being and to speak up when struggling. “I wish someone had told me it’s okay not to be okay,” he said. “Now I want to be that voice for others.”
His openness adds to a growing list of high-profile footballers who have discussed mental health challenges — including Andrés Iniesta, who spoke of depression after the 2010 World Cup. Danny Rose, who detailed his battle with anxiety while at Tottenham; and most recently, England’s Harry Kane, who acknowledged the psychological toll of penalty misses in major tournaments.
The timing of Arnautović’s revelations too coincides with a renewed focus on player welfare in global football. FIFA’s 2023 Mental Health Symposium, held in Zurich, brought together team doctors, psychologists, and player unions to establish better protocols for identifying and supporting athletes in distress. UEFA followed with updated mental health guidelines for national teams in early 2024, recommending routine check-ins and access to licensed professionals.
For Arnautović, the journey from Shanghai to Bologna has been as much emotional as it has been geographical. He speaks now with a clarity and self-awareness that was absent during his most difficult months abroad. “I didn’t understand it then,” he reflected. “But going through it taught me how crucial it is to check in — not just on your body, but on your mind.”
As he prepares for Bologna’s upcoming Serie A clash against Lazio in January 2024 — a match that could influence European qualification hopes — Arnautović carries more than just his boots, and jersey. He carries a lesson hard-earned: that strength in sport isn’t only measured in goals or tackles, but in the courage to face what’s happening inside.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available. In the United States, contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at 1-800-950-NAMI or text “NAMI” to 741741. In the UK, reach out to Samaritans at 116 123. In Germany, the Telefonseelsorge offers free, confidential support at 0800 1110111 or 0800 1110222. You are not alone.
Stay tuned to Archysport for updates on Marko Arnautović and Bologna’s Serie A campaign, with the next match scheduled for January 13, 2024, at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Kickoff is set for 20:45 CET (19:45 UTC).
We welcome your thoughts. Share this story to help break the silence around mental health in sports — and join the conversation in the comments below.
