Four weeks ago his addictions to booze and gambling had dragged soccer legend Kenny Sansom so low he was convinced he had nothing left to live for.
Today he’s a new man, fresh out of rehab, with plans for the future – and he is full of gratitude to this newspaper.
The former England and Arsenal hero smiled as he said: “I want to thank the Sunday Mirror for saving my life.
“I’m feeling good now. I’m looking after myself again. I’m finally looking forward to waking up in the morning.
“It’s a great feeling.”
We jumped in to help after finding homeless Kenny, 56, passed out on a patch of grass with a half-empty bottle of Mateus Rose wine by his side.
Slumped near a tree just days after his former club’s FA Cup triumph at Wembley, he looked a shadow of the player regularly voted one of the country’s finest defenders.
In a tearful interview, he told us then: “I’ve had six bottles of wine, four bottles of Night Nurse and four bottles of other drugs. I did it because I wanted to die.
“I’ve got no money in the bank. I just go to sleep on the street. I don’t own a car, I don’t have a house, I’ve got no money, I’ve got no partner.
“All my money has gone on drink and to the betting shop. I ain’t even got a phone. Right now I feel like I’ll never stop drinking. I can’t envisage that.
“The way I feel right now I feel like the only thing that could stop me drinking would be being dead.
“I just don’t want to be around. I don’t want to be living the horrible life that I’m living.”
With help from the Professional Footballers’ Association, the Sunday Mirror booked Kenny into a private detox clinic and put him up in hotels for four nights until his place became available.
Then we drove him to the clinic in Somerset and saw him checked in.
One month on, the divorced dad of three is back on his feet. He hasn’t touched alcohol since beginning treatment.
He has found a place to live near his family in south-east London and is now searching for work.
And he can finally walk past a pub without wanting a drink for the first time in years.
Kenny, a former Sky soccer pundit, told us: “I bought an ice cream from a shop the other day and I could see all the bottles of wine on the shelves, but I wasn’t tempted at all.
"I don’t want to drink – that’s the good thing.
“I’m walking past bookmakers and not wanting to go in. It’s been a long time since I could say that.”
His new attitude is already paying dividends. “Since rehab I’ve rebuilt bridges with my family,” he said.
“I took my granddaughter to school this morning.
“My daughters sent me Father’s Day cards. I started crying when I read them describing me as the best dad in the world.
"I’ve still got them in my pocket. You can’t buy something like that. I finally feel ready to beat my problems. I want to do it for them – and for me.”
Kenny was offered a place on the Sporting Chance programme in Hampshire, founded by ex-Arsenal teammate Tony Adams, later this month.
But he has decided he is strong enough to beat his addictions after three weeks in the Somerset clinic, and is undergoing counselling close to his new home.
He said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the offer from Sporting Chance, but I want to be close to my family.
“It makes me feel happier and stronger, and I’m sober as a judge now. I know I can finally do it.
“I felt like there was no way forward for me, but I know now I was wrong.
“I feel like there’s light at the end of the tunnel now.”
Kenny, who won 86 England caps and also played for Crystal Palace, QPR, Newcastle United and Everton during his glittering career, is also job-hunting.
He said: “My legs aren’t as good as they were so I can’t do anything too physical.
“I just need to bring a bit of money in and keep busy. If anyone can offer me anything I’d be incredibly grateful. I want to live now.”