How Brad Guzan is Preparing for Life After Football

After dedicating decades to their sport, every professional athlete eventually faces the question: “What’s next?”

Having spent so much time honing their craft, athletes often retire without the qualifications or experience needed to work in another industry. 

This can be a very tough reality for athletes to face, with former Luton Town goalkeeper Scott Ward telling the Financial Times: “There was no mental or skilful preparation for the ‘what if’ moment, so it creates that even more dramatic cliff edge.”

This is why many players have begun studying part-time before they retire, proactively planning ahead to ensure they’re well-equipped for the future. One player who is doing this now is Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who studies on our MSc Football Business programme here at GIS.

Guzan began his professional career with Chivas USA before moving to Aston Villa in 2008, where he made 144 league appearances for the club.

Following a loan spell at Hull City and a brief move to Middlesbrough, the Olympian and US international returned to his home nation to join Atlanta United, where he has since played 219 league games for the club.

Studying with us online, Guzan told us that he chose the course to “stay connected to the game that I love.“

“The option to prepare my next move whilst still playing at the highest level was hugely important to me. That’s why I chose to study at GIS – it just made sense.” 

Studying modules from Football Finance to Football Operations Management, Guzan has described the course as a “real eye-opener”, exposing him to off-the-pitch processes he had never been familiar with.

“After being in the game for 20 years now, it’s amazing to still discover new aspects about a sport I love and look at ways I can continue to make an impact in football after I finish playing.” 

Though it can be difficult to take on a new challenge, sports marketing expert Tom Rowell believes that a playing background gives athletes a unique perspective.

“The fact that you’ve been the product in terms of performing in the sport is a fantastic insight.

“You have a relatability that I think people would find interesting,” he continued.

“Anyone who’s been an athlete clearly has a massive drive to succeed and a huge amount of ambition and self-determination, which is attractive to me as an employer.”

Not only is post-career study a good way of easing an athlete’s worries after retiring- it can boost playing performance too!

Various studies have found that athletes who engage in career planning do better when it comes to team selection and career tenure, possibly because of the peace of mind that planning provides, allowing athletes to focus on their performance.

Other athletes who study with us include Olympic gold medallist Shona McCallin MBE, Olympic sprinter Asha Philip, and former footballers Joleon Lescott and Wes Morgan.

If you’re an athlete preparing for what comes next, or a student passionate about a career in the sports industry, explore our course offerings to take the next step toward your future.

Article by Zakaria Anani