A Stroke That Changed Everything

As England and Barcelona goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck sipped her flat white in the Spanish sunshine outside her favorite coffee shop, she looked like a player who had the world at her feet. But this was a very different picture from 12 months ago. Last February, at the age of 24, she was informed that she had suffered a stroke, leaving her fearing she would never play football again.

'I'm lucky because I should have lost my vision,' she told BBC Sport. 'I should have lost my peripheral vision for sure. The majority of people that suffer a stroke [like mine] do that. So, I probably should have been blind, which is quite a miracle that that didn't happen.'

A Remarkable Comeback

Roebuck was part of the Lionesses squad that won the Euros in 2022 and reached the World Cup final in the summer of 2023. But the former Manchester City keeper could never have predicted that six months after that match in Sydney, her world would be turned upside down.

'For peace of mind, I need a head scan,' she insisted after experiencing symptoms of nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and impaired vision. The club initially treated her for concussion, but Roebuck was certain it had to be something else. A subsequent MRI scan revealed she had suffered a stroke in her left occipital lobe, the visual processing area of the brain.

The Road to Recovery

The diagnosis came just two weeks after she had signed a pre-contract with European champions Barcelona. Roebuck was not allowed to train for 12 weeks and was left to pick up the pieces, trying to figure out what had caused the stroke and constantly fearing it would happen again.

'I wouldn't walk my dog for like six weeks. I wouldn't leave the house. I was scared to do anything on my own,' she recalled. Her parents took shifts living with her in her one-bedroom flat in Manchester.

A New Chapter with Barcelona

Roebuck did not play for Manchester City again after her stroke but was able to complete her dream move to Barcelona in the summer. She made her Barca debut in December in a 4-1 win over Real Betis, 303 days after her diagnosis and more than 18 months since her last appearance.

'Everyone expected me to be nervous, but I felt fine the moment I stepped out there,' she said. 'That's the kind of the mantra I'm going for, every time I get that opportunity, I just want to enjoy it.'

Valuing Life Beyond Football

Roebuck says that while she thinks about the stroke every day and still battles symptoms like fatigue, she is very much focused on the future. She has also started a coffee bean roasting company, channeling her energy into a new passion.

'I feel like I value life a lot more. I was stuck in a real cycle of thinking football was everything,' she shared. 'I didn't know if I was going play again so it was just a great way to channel my energy and have that focus to distract myself. It's a perfect way to start and eventually hopefully one day the aim is to have a coffee shop.'

Looking Ahead

Now 25, Roebuck is competing with Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll for the number one jersey at Barcelona. Representing the Lionesses has always been the 'highest privilege' in her career, but her comeback may have come too late for a recall in time for this summer's Euros.

'It's difficult because that's something that's not in my hands as such. Nothing is given,' she acknowledged. 'Now I'm prioritizing the things that are most important, and that's being the best goalkeeper I can possibly be.'

Ellie Roebuck's journey is a testament to resilience and determination, proving that even the most challenging obstacles can be overcome with the right mindset and support.