Robbie Savage has said he used to post on fan message boards under an alias because he was insecure about what supporters would say about him.
The former Leicester, Birmingham, Blackburn, Derby and Wales midfielder played in the Premier League for over 10 years and was a controversial figure because of his playing style, and even got into the habit of phoning reporters to question their opinion of him.
"I was the most insecure person ever, to the point where when I signed for Derby and was having a shocker, you know those chat boards? I made up a name, went on them and used to say, 'Robbie played well today, didn't he," he said on BBC Radio Five Live.
"Seriously, I was that insecure I used to phone newspaper reporters up if I got a six or a five in the paper and say 'what are you talking about, what game were you at? I was at least an eight or a nine!'
"I was so insecure as a person, I'd have the best game in the world and I'd still think, am I going to be playing next week? I'd phone four, five, six different people to say I played well."