Life After Football

[JFK-1 1,690]

Spare a thought for the professional footballer who at the start of the season suddenly finds himself without a club, without team-mates and without the weekly buzz of matchday.

 

Spare a thought? Why? Many of them have been earning massive wages, enjoying luxury lifestyles and playing a game they've almost certainly loved since they were children.

 

Well, the fact is that when their careers come to an end, many find it difficult to adjust to their new lives.

 

And some find that they simply can't cope with that transition. They become depressed, descend into addiction, end up behind bars or even worse.

 

More including video interviews with ex players at link. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1fKs1HFYrVgrX02xd9hnSxp/life-after-football?intc_type=promo&intc_location=sport&intc_campaign=lifeafterfootball&intc_linkname=worldservice_fac_article1

[the gunslinger 3,366]

It happens to normal folk to. Why is it everytime a footballer sneezes they get a programme.

[JFK-1 1,690]

It happens to normal folk to. Why is it everytime a footballer sneezes they get a programme.

 

Maybe it's generally expected that someone who is a multi millionaire and could dine out on his past for the rest of his life so shouldn't be as likely to fall prey to such an outcome. And of course there is another view that it's hard to replace the adrenaline of such a life when it comes to an end so it's easier to fall prey to such an outcome.

 

Regarding George Best as an example I think he was always at least halfway to alcoholism and Gazza as another example probably not alcoholic all along but definitely a troubled character who was likely to fall into such a state once it was all over. In the case of Gazza I don't think he has the mentality to overcome his demons. It looks bleak.