Republic of Ireland footballer James McClean has opened up about his autism diagnosis.
The Derry man, who plays for Wigan Athletic in the Championship, revealed the news in an Instagram post about his daughter for World Autism Acceptance Week.
His daughter, Willow-Ivy, is autistic and the soccer star has opened up about learning how to "manage the challenges".
Read more: James McClean and wife Erin welcome fourth child
But he has also revealed how he had sought his own diagnosis after he and wife Erin began to recognise "many small traits" he had first seen in his daughter.
"As you all know, my daughter Willow-Ivy is autistic," he wrote.
"The last four years have been life changing in the most amazing way but also very difficult at times as her daddy watching her overcome so many obstacles in her life and learning how to manage the challenges she faces on a daily basis."
The former Derry City player continued: "The more Erin and I learned about autism the more we began to recognise I was very similar to Willow in more ways than we thought.
"I see so many small traits in her that I see in myself. So I decided to go and get an ASD assessment.
"It's been a bit of a journey and now having a diagnosis I feel it's time to share it, for the week that's in it."
He also revealed his reasons for making his diagnosis public, referring to World Autism Acceptance Week that runs from March 27 to April 2, writing: "I have debated for a while going public in sharing this as I've done this for Willow-Ivy, to let her know that I understand and that being autistic won't and should never hold her back from reaching her goals and dreams."
He added: "Daddy's girl."
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