Falling Into Coaching

When players retire, there’s often a quiet confidence that something will come next. Some have ideas—media, business, property, mentoring. Others are still figuring it out. But one thing we hear time and again is: “I don’t want to go into coaching.”

It’s a common sentiment. After years of being on the pitch, the thought of staying in the game—but now standing on the sidelines—doesn’t appeal to everyone. And that’s completely fair. Coaching isn’t for everyone.

But here’s what tends to happen. A few months go by. The job offers that seemed like a sure thing don’t materialise. The business idea doesn’t quite get off the ground. The media role is more competitive than expected. And then—without even planning it—you get asked to help out at a session. Cover a youth team. Mentor some academy players. Suddenly, the thing you didn’t plan for becomes the path you’re walking.

That’s not wrong. It’s not failure. In fact, coaching can be hugely fulfilling and a powerful way to pass on what you’ve learned. But falling into coaching—without choosing it—is different from stepping into coaching because it’s what you truly want.

And that’s the real point: if you want something different, you’ll need to be conscious about it. You’ll need to start shaping your next move with intention, not drift. You’ll need to put in the same focus you once gave to training—this time, into developing new skills, learning a new industry, and building a new network.

It’s easy to follow the path of least resistance. But that path might not lead where you really want to go.

That’s where we can help.

We work with players at every stage of their careers—not just to prepare for what’s likely, but to build towards what’s possible. Whether you want to work in football or step into something completely different, you need a clear game plan. You need space to explore, tools to build, and a mindset that matches the ambition you had on the pitch.

So if coaching is what you really want—embrace it fully. Go all in. Be great at it.

But if it’s not, don’t wait for something to fall into place. Start designing it. Start creating it. Because your career after football doesn’t have to be a default setting.

It can be your next great achievement.