As a professional footballer, you most likely have more free time because of the coronavirus, so now is a good time to invest in your personal development and start looking ahead to a second career. Nienke van Gerven, a player development manager at FIFPRO.
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Coronavirus shutdown: Forward planning advice for footballers
Tatiana Saunders: My journey from Wall Street to professional football
Goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders has experienced a unique route into professional football – via Wall Street. Raised in New York, the former England youth international recounts her transition from the world of finance to playing professionally in Europe.
FIFPRO South America’s education campaign making a difference for players
FIFPRO South America President Sergio Marchi, General Secretary Gamadiel Garcia, and Director of Education Pablo Burtovoy were this week in Asunion, Paraguay to launch Retomá Tus Estudios (Resume Your Studies).
PFA Australia & the player development hub
The Professional Footballers’ Association Australia (PFA) worked in partnership with The Mind Room to specialise their offerings for players during the COVID-19 health pandemic.
Laurie Bell: Building a second career while playing professional football
Released by Manchester City as a 16 year old, Laurie Bell explains in his latest column what happened next, and makes some recommendations to his fellow professional footballers.
Giorgio Chiellini: Planning ahead
Even the greatest players understand the need to play for the future. Giorgio Chiellini has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics as well as a Master’s in Business Administration at Turin University while enjoying a long and successful career at Juventus.
Mogogi Gabonamong: The player who would be farmer
Umit Nayir: Already laying down the law
From early in his career, Turkish footballer Umit Nayir was studying for a law degree. It paid off earlier than he ever expected when his legal knowledge helped him to get a move to Besiktas.
From goalkeeper to astronaut or neurosurgeon
Even as a teenage professional, Dutch goalkeeper Wouter Dronkers decided that he wanted to prepare for his future by studying. The 27-year-old has since graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, taken part in a medical research program at Harvard University, and is now studying medicine at Erasmus University in Rotterdam.
Zesh Rehman got a degree online while playing in Asia
Zesh Rehman is the most noticeable of this year’s FIFPRO Online Academy graduates. The 36-year old professional footballer earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management while playing in South-East Asia.