5 Most Favorable Jobs for Ex-footballers in Nigeria | From One Playing Field to Another

Members of the ‘golden era’ in Nigeria football, players who were at their peak playing top flight football between 1994 and 2006 have all retire from active football today – Finidi George, Taribo West, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu…  The older ones now should better start planning for their retirement.

In fact, the nature of football career is such that any smart player should expect retirement anytime; injury may have forced players like Daniel Amokachie, Emmanuel Amunike out of the game at the peak of their career. Another thing that can force a player out prematurely is loose of form.

The question usually is – WHAT NEXT?

You may have played football all your life and didn’t find time to learn any other trade. Perhaps, you didn’t consider that your football career could only last for about 15 years or so, of your life. Well reality may have caught up with you now. So what are you going to do?

You don’t have to worry. This is the reason for this article, to help you see what you can do after you retire from active football.

Let us look at what some Nigerian ex-international footballers did or are doing today. They simply moved from one playing field to another. They changed the nature of their job, but are still in the football career; using the skills and experiences they have acquired over the years.

First, they had to enroll for a new career in football, to enable them transit from being a player to a coach, Agent, Administrator or Analyst. Below are the 5 most favorable jobs for ex-footballers.

1. Coaching: You can enroll for a coaching course and get trained for the next two years or so. Ex-players such as Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachie, and Emmanuel Amunike now coach Nigeria national teams.

2.Administrator and Technical Staff: You can also enroll for a football administration course. They are usually continuous conferences, Seminars, and short courses. Ex-players like Nwankwo Kanu now work as administrator with League Management Company (LMC). And Austin Okocha serves as NFF technical committee member.

Player Agent: You can as well enroll for a player Agent course and become a legal player management agent. Ex-player like Dosun Joseph, Mike Emenalo, Fatal Atere are successful player managers since they retired from playing.

TV Commentator and Analyst: There’s also course on sports media broadcast. You could develop your own TV program or get employed by major international stations. Ex-players like Sunday Oliseh, Austin Okocha, Peterside idah are regular commentators and analysts in Super Sports.

Football Academy and Kids Football Center: If you are interested in passing on your skills down to younger players, you may decide to start a football academy business or paid kids development center or training camp. Ex-player like Nwankwo Kanu own Papilo Football Academy and also anchor a football development camp with Greensprings Schools in Lekki Lagos