Playing football is a passionate affair. However, it is something that cannot be one’s job for their entire life. Whether because we age out of the game, or injuries like that of Ntlhe means that we have to take the bench, we have good reason to think of our economic well-being after our football career. Here are some of the possibilities there are to use soccer experience to go down a new career path.
Use Your Football Knowledge
After having played football for several years, one advantage you have in the labor market is your first-hand and extensive experience of football. The main question is how to leverage this knowledge to make some money. If you enjoy betting, you could combine this passion with your knowledge and make some real money.
In order to do this, you should sign up at the best online betting sites available. This guide will recommend the best online betting sites in the United Kingdom. They evaluate them based on their welcome bonuses, licensing, competitive odds, and more. They even allow you to search for the best sportsbook by sport, including football. If you are looking for a great online sports betting site, this guide is a great place for you.
This is one of the most direct ways to leverage your experience to make some money, but it is not the only way. You will have to combine your football knowledge with some knowledge specific to sports betting, but you are already halfway there!
Write a Book About Your Experience
You’ve always wanted to write a football book, but never had time or motivation. Now that you’ve finally decided to take action, where should you start?
Writing a book isn’t easy. There are countless football books out there, and they come from every genre imaginable, so your main task is finding your niche. What makes your book and perspective special? Why would potential readers grab your title instead of the other one?
There are plenty of resources out there to help you write a book. Whether you want to self-publish or go through a publisher, it is important to decide on a plan of action, and then dive in. Anyone will tell you that the only way to finish a book is to start writing it!
Become a Football Coach
Writing a book does not fit everyone’s personality. How would you describe yourself? Are you outgoing or shy? Would you rather play sports or watch them? If you answered yes to either question, then you might want to consider becoming a soccer coach.
Soccer is the biggest sport around the globe and one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, China and other major economies. According to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), over 30 million Americans played soccer last year alone. The sport has also become very popular around the globe. In fact, according to FIFA, nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide play soccer.
There are several ways to get involved in coaching soccer. One way is through volunteering at local youth leagues. Use your contacts within the sector to see where positions are opening. You can also expand your digital presence by writing a coaching blog. This could attract the right kind of attention or be something to point to when talking with potential employers.
Follow Surprising Examples of Other Footballers
There is no need to limit yourself, though. Footballers have gone on to do nearly everything under the sun.
One famous example is Viktor Orbán, the current Prime Minister of Hungary. While he has earned much more fame as a politician, he was also on a soccer roster. He was signed on with the club FC Felcsút as recently as 2007.
Julio Iglesias showed a lot of promise in Real Madrid’s youth system. Although he could have had a future as a great goalkeeper, he unfortunately suffered a car accident that left him with injuries serious enough that he had to leave soccer. He went on to study law, release 77 albums, and become one of Spain’s most successful singers.
These examples go to show just how varied life can be after soccer. Whether you continue in that vein or do something completely different, there is no shortage of options!