Former Premier League striker Dave Kitson has publicly revealed himself as the mysterious author known as The Secret Footballer, ending years of speculation over the identity of the anonymous writer.
For much of the 2010s, the pseudonymous Secret Footballer penned a series of candid newspaper columns and published five books offering rare, behind-the-scenes insights into professional football, from dressing-room politics to transfers and mental health.
In a YouTube interview this week, Kitson confirmed he was the author, saying: “I am The Secret Footballer — I’ve never said that out loud before.” He explained the project began as a way to express his frustrations with the direction of the sport and to help his own mental well-being.
Kitson, 46, who played for clubs including Reading, Stoke City, Cambridge United, Sheffield United and Portsmouth during a professional career spanning more than a decade , said writing was “cathartic” and helped him process his experiences.
He said the column was never intended to name names, but rather to shed light on what really happens in the game and why. However, maintaining anonymity alongside a high-profile playing career brought immense pressure and anxiety, he added.
Kitson also spoke about how writing about football’s mental health issues, notably a piece titled Sometimes There’s Darkness Behind the Light, marked a turning point. He said the project “stopped being fun” after the tragic death of former player Gary Speed shortly after that column was published.
Fans and pundits have long speculated about the identity of the Secret Footballer, with online communities and forums dissecting clues for years. Now, Kitson’s confirmation brings one of the game’s most enduring mysteries to an end, more than a decade after the first book was published.
