Manchester United star Raphaël Varane has revealed he has unfortunately been suffering from concussion problems for the last decade in a fresh effort to improve protocols around head injuries in world football.
The often-injured Man United and now internationally retired French defender was speaking to sports outlet L’Équipe in an exclusive interview when he detailed that not only has he had to pull out games due to concussion concerns but has played through matches even with head injury symptoms.
Citing instances such as a 2019/20 match for Real Madrid against Man City and fixtures as far back as 2014 when France came up against Brazil in the round of 16, he described his performances as being on “autopilot” and that he was unsure he would have even been able to respond if someone spoke to him.
As for similar experiences since joining United, he described a game earlier this season where he headed the ball multiple times and was feeling “abnormally tired in the following days, as well as having some eye fatigue” before being deemed unfit to play the next match.
🎙️ | Raphaël Varane on concussion protocal in football:
“I know that, personally, I won’t live until 100; I know that I have damaged my body and put myself in danger. By speaking about it, situations can perhaps be better analysed and take decisions based on risks.”
The 30-year-old serial winner explained that although steps have been taken to protect his health down the years, the protocols surrounding potential concussions and injury culture, in general, aren’t quite where they need to be.
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“As footballers playing at the highest level, we are used to pain, we are a bit like soldiers, tough guys, symbols of physical strength, but these symptoms are almost invisible”, says Varane.
“If your leg hurts and you limp, everyone sees it. But with head injuries, it immediately feels weak to say that you are tired, that you have migraines or eye fatigue… So at first, we tell ourselves that it will pass.”
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Varane left the French national team in 2023 to look after his overall fitness and also said he has already advised his seven-year-old son not to head the ball when playing, reiterating that “even if it does not cause immediate trauma, we know that in the long term, repeated shocks are likely to have harmful effects.”
The seasoned centre-back went on to confess that it was only this season that he heard about “The first time I heard about micro-concussions after specialists came in to talk to the United squad about it, adding that most players “don’t understand and we don’t even think about doing a test”.
It was only in December 2022 that football fans were left fuming with the Football Association (FA) themselves for mocking a potentially serious head injury during a cup tie and while things have improved in recent years, it’s clear that there’s still a lot of preventive rework still to be done.
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Fellow footballing legend Alan Shearer has been at the forefront of trying to improve awareness around concussions in football and the links to conditions like CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) as Varane is by no means the first and sadly won’t be the last.
Sharing an official update online, the RFL wrote: “Wane, who has led England since February 2020, has taken time to reflect on the programme and believes the timing is right for new leadership to guide the team into the next phase, including the upcoming World Cup.
“During his tenure, Wane oversaw memorable series victories over Tonga in 2023 and a star-studded Samoa a year later, as well as a semi-final in the World Cup. He finishes with 14 wins from 19 matches.”
Crediting him as one of “a very small elite number of coaches to have won the full suite of domestic club honours and achieved World Club Championship success”, hailing his experience and longevity both as a player and as a coach.
As for Wane himself, he said: “It has been the honour of my life to coach England Rugby League over the last six years, but after careful reflection, I believe the time is right to step aside and allow the programme to move forward into its next chapter.
England are on the lookout for a new coach heading into the World Cup after being swept in the Ashes.
Coach Shaun Wane has reportedly resigned from the post after a disappointing 3-0 whitewash against Australia last year.
The 61-year-old ex-pro goes on to add, “The privilege of leading my country in a World Cup, an Ashes Series on home soil and securing victories over Tonga and Samoa will live long in the memory.
“I’m incredibly grateful to all the players, coaches and staff I’ve worked alongside during that time; their commitment and professionalism made those moments possible. I wish everyone involved with England Rugby League the best going forward and for the World Cup later this year.”
According to the latest reports online, St Helens boss Paul Rowley is now said to be the favourite to take over in the interim.
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is still months away (scheduled to take place in October and November), but the governing body will want to get the new setup and coaching in place as soon as possible to prepare for the tournament.
Manchester City Women finally secure transfer target after months of pursuit
Danny Jones
Manchester City Women’s team have finally secured their long-sought-after new signing, Sam Coffey, after months of courting her.
She is Andrée Jeglertz’s first new addition of the January transfer window.
The American midfielder joins Man City Women on a three-and-a-half year contract after having been with National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) outfit, Portland Thorns, for the best part of four years.
Officially arriving at the Joie Stadium and wider Etihad Campus this week, she will wear the 17 shirt.
Already a well-established US international, the 27-year-old helped her now former team to the playoff semi-finals as club captain last term and has featured in the NWSL’s team of the season for the last four campaigns running.
The club went after her this past summer but was ultimately unable to get an agreement over the line.
Sam Coffey came through the youth academy ranks in New York, going on to play her college football in Boston and then at Penn State before making her full senior debut for the Thorns back in 2022.
Fast coming on 50 caps for her country and having won Olympic Gold and a SheBelieves Cup in 2024, she pulls on the sky blue of Jeglertz’s current league-leading side, having already won silverware.
Man City never hesitate when it comes to bringing in top talents to further increase their title chances, and an acquisition like this could help them stay the course towards their first-ever Women’s Super League (WSL) trophy.
Commenting in an official club statement, Coffey said: “It’s a club with so much history, so much success, so much influence in the city. Manchester is not somewhere I’ve been before, but there’s something about it that I felt I was led to and called to.
You can find her first full interview as a City women’s player down below.
"I'm an all-in kind of girl. You'll get my whole heart and soul." 🙌
She goes on to add: “I think it’s also a place that has just proven its investment in women’s soccer and being a part of this movement that is going on.
“Seeing the facilities, the support the team gets, and all the efforts they’re putting in for the women’s side is such a huge and positive side and something I’m honoured to be a part of.”
City face Bournemouth next in the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday, 18 January, before facing fellow title contenders and serial domestic winners Chelsea in the League Cup next week; it remains to be seen when her first appearance will come.
Danny Jones -
2nd April 2024 
