City Studios presents a fascinating look at how five different footballers cope with the end of their playing days...
Featuring the very different journeys of Steph Houghton, Paul Lake, David Brightwell, Nedum Onuoha and Fernandinho, we discover how each has tackled their own next steps.
From career changes to a heart-breaking career end, and from staying on with football, branching out into media and fighting to the end. Life After Football travels from Harpurhey to Curitiba in Brazil.
Lake reflects on a sparkling playing career lost with Academy graduate Jacob Wright.
“I’d gone from being, in my eyes, a somebody to being a nobody,” says Lake.
“My identity was just literally changed completely, and there’s that recognition that you’re never going to have that adulation again.
“During that period of time, I had no life experience of anything else. So I didn’t know what was coming next. And I was fearful.”
Brightwell’s story reveals how he left football to become a firefighter.
“I was 31. I wouldn’t say I fell out of love with football, but I’d had enough of all the traveling,” says Brightwell.
“I wasn’t injured. The club I was with offered me another year’s contract, but I just took the decision for myself and my wife to step away and go into something else.”
Houghton talks about her love for Manchester City and why she isn’t ready to walk away from football and Onuoha says he was ready to finish playing - but wanted to stay in the game.
“Without a doubt, one of the best moments of my career, was that moment when I knew I wasn’t going to play again,” he says.
Now a popular pundit on TV and radio, Nedum also talks about his tough introduction to Manchester life and proves he can still turn in a more than decent 100 metre sprint.
Fernandinho’s determination to squeeze every last drop out of a stellar playing career is evident as he is forced decide whether a serious muscle injury could be the end.
With a potential five-month recovery, will the 39-year-old finally call it a day?
Or will the advice Pep Guardiola gave him be the spur he needs?
Also featuring the thoughts and wisdom of Rodri, Jack Grealish, Manu Akanji and Josko Gvardiol, Life After Football is the latest masterpiece from City Studios.
You can watch it now via your CITY+ subscription...
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