The amounts of money in soccer today make it one of the most profitable sports in the world. Basically, a world-class player would only need to make it big and play for a couple of months in order to have enough money for the rest of their life. Believe it or not, some players make more than $10M a year and they can easily double it up with marketing and advertising contracts.
Now, most players push it until they can no longer deal with the level of energy and stamina required. So, when do soccer players retire? On the same note, you probably ask yourself – what do they do once they are done? What is the next step after hanging up their boots? Are they going to just live and spend the money? Here is everything you need to know.
When Do Footballers Retire?
So, when do footballers retire? There are normally two reasons wherefore soccer players retire – age and injuries. Obviously, you can tell when injuries stop a player’s career. It can happen anytime – at 18 years old or at 35 years old. Some injuries are harsh and can even paralyze players or leave them in wheelchairs. After all, soccer is a contact sport and accidents do happen.
Old age is probably the most common factor out there. Goalkeepers tend to retire later because they do not have too much pressure. They do not need to run for 90 minutes, but just retain their reflexes. In fact, the retirement age goes lower and lower as you move from defense towards the attack. All in all, some world-class goalkeepers can easily exceed 40 years old.
Defenders do not require a perfect condition either, yet they do need to be fit. Midfielders require a bit more energy, as they need to move back and forth on the field. Finally, attackers tend to retire faster. They need their stamina and energy. With all these, an experienced attacker will still be able to maintain a good eye for the goal. Natural finishers can go for ages, even if they are not that energetic anymore.
Good players end up signing their first contracts when they are 17. No matter how talented they are, it does not mean that they will make it big straight away – they are likely to work hard for another few years. Sure, world-class talent will be noticed immediately – such as Lionel Messi. As for the average retirement age, it goes up to 35 years old.
What Do Footballers Do After Retirement?
Now, you probably ask yourself – what do footballers do after retirement? Some of them manage to invest the millions they make – if they are good enough to get paid that much. Some others will go on with different careers, Since soccer players tend to overlook education, their options are a bit limited.
Many soccer players stick to the industry and become managers or coaches. Most players will find it difficult to walk away from this sport, so they will stick to it. More and more players turn into managers overnight – some of them keep double roles at their clubs.
Just like for players, managers and coaches need more successful years in order to prove their skills. They need to try out different teams in different leagues to make the difference. Surprisingly enough, good players rarely make great managers. It goes the other way around – look at Jose Mourinho.
Some players go from retirement to different club-based roles and positions and not necessarily into management. These days, you can find many players in ambassadorial roles, as well as directors, representatives, executives and so on.
Some of these players would rather work as scouts. They do not see themselves managing dozens of players, but they believe they have the ability to spot good young players – ideal for big clubs and their academies.
Then, some soccer players turn to punditry. They end up on various TV shows, criticizing games and players, commenting on games and so on. No matter what soccer-related program you watch, there will always be a former player around discussing ideas.
Some of the biggest names turned to punditry include Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, not to mention Roy Keane, who criticizes today’s soccer society in a funny and acid manner – like no other.
Finally, some players become soccer journalists, but this path is not too common among world-class players. Instead, it is more common among those without too many events over their careers – they still want to be in the industry after retirement, so they join journalism.
Oldest Football Player Still Playing 2021
You may have seen records of players going on the field in their 50s or even 60s too – such things are more common in inferior leagues. When it comes to world-class soccer, you can still find top players who can easily exceed 35 years old.
Kazuyoshi Miura still plays soccer at 54 years old and holds the record for the oldest goalscorer in professional leagues at 50. When it comes to more famous names, Willy Caballero still plays at 39 years old, not to mention Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Roque Santa Cruz or Joaquin – same age range. Maxi Rodriguez is 40 years old and still smashing it, as well as Gianluigi Buffon – 43 years old.
In the past, Teddy Sheringham gained notoriety while still playing at 42 years old. A few other notable names include:
- Rivaldo – 43
- Ze Roberto – 43
- Marco Ballotta – 44
Conclusion
In the end, when do soccer players retire? While the average retirement age is 35 years old, the truth is many world-class players keep going after that. In fact, they still make an excellent impression when on the field. Some of them stick to major European leagues and go in the first team, while others move to less powerful leagues as they are close to retirement.
It is not unusual these days for world-class players to go spend their last years in countries with low-quality soccer – not only do they get paid a fortune, but they also help the respective leagues gain some notoriety.