Top Tips for a Career Transition, Featuring Wes Morgan, Joleon Lescott and Brad Guzan

Whether you’re a current athlete considering your next steps or working in a different industry dreaming of working in sport, career transitions can be a daunting prospect.

Often, many people delay thinking about how to prepare for a career transition, but those who do are much better prepared for their next steps.

Speaking to professional athletes and GIS students, GIS has put together some top tips for those looking to take the leap into a career in the sports industry.

1. Start Preparing Early

As you approach the end of your current career, it’s vital to start thinking about what your next steps are as soon as possible, according to Premier League winner, Wes Morgan.

“You can’t be thinking ‘I’ll get to 35, then I’ll start thinking about what I want to do next’,” Wes told GIS.

“It’ll come quickly and before you know it you haven’t thought about the next step until you’ve actually finished. You need to start preparing for life after football as soon as possible.”

Current Atlanta United goalkeeper and fellow GIS student Brad Guzan agrees. Previously at Aston Villa, Brad studies on our MSc Football Business programme and said: “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.”

With expert-led courses and access to top industry professionals, GIS is a leading option for sports education, providing the skills, for those with passion for sport. 

Pieter de Smedt, a current GIS student, has a background in finance but chose to study his Postgraduate Diploma in International Football Business with us, citing the network as a great help to his career transition:

“The programme is preparing me for the future by giving me the opportunity to build a network in football.

“It gives me the opportunity to talk to a lot of people in the industry and provides me with knowledge about finance, marketing, fan engagement, leadership, which is really important for me to grow.”

2. Experiment with Different Paths

With so many avenues to go down, from marketing to coaching and more, it is easy to be unsure of exactly which role you’d like to pursue.

Fellow GIS student and two-time Premier League winner Joleon Lescott understands this feeling, but encourages curiosity and experimentation before committing to one path.

“I’m not entirely sure which way to go yet,” Lescott said.

“Try things out,” he added. “Get into media if possible, get into coaching, gain as much experience as possible, and you’ll find something you gravitate toward.”

A Manchester City academy product, and now a GIS student, Terry Dunfield went through the same experimentation before deciding what he wanted to do.

“I felt like working in broadcasting as a soccer analyst might be a good fit for the first year.

“While I was feeling that out, there was an opportunity to be head coach of Toronto U14s , and that was where my heart was.”

With courses in many different areas in sport, you can find out what interests you on our course page.

3. Follow Your Interests

Once you’ve decided on the general area you’d like to work in, Wes and Terry feel that success comes from passion, and encourage those looking to find a new career to pursue a role they genuinely care about.

“You’ve got to love it, you’ve got to be really passionate about the sport and helping people,” Terry said.

As your playing career ends, it can be difficult to replace the feeling of being on the pitch, Joleon added, but it’s possible to redirect that passion.

“Playing was everything for me, but going forward I know that I am passionate about making a difference for the next generation of players.”

Former Sunderland player and Australian international Bailey Wright then added how a new path can be refreshing, saying that it’s “exciting to know that you can open new doors and start something new whilst already having lived a career that was your dream, which you can now continue in a different role.” 

4. Start Studying Whilst Still in Your Current Role

The two can seem counterintuitive. How can it be possible to study but stay focused on your next performance or achieving your other goals? 

“I don’t see it as a distraction at all, I see it as a real positive,” Bailey argued.

Studying whilst still playing for the Black Cats, Bailey said: “I’ve done it for two years now and it hasn’t distracted me from my football. In the two years I’ve been studying, things have gone really well for me from a football point of view as well, so I think it goes hand in hand.”

There are even studies that argue pre-transition studies can benefit playing performance, offering more focus and less distractions as players have less concern over their long-term futures.

5. Learn to Enjoy Curiosity

Despite their different career paths, our alumni tend to share one attribute: they enjoy the process of learning.

This is the driving force behind their studies and new careers, and is often what gives them purpose at a time when many athletes struggle after their playing careers end.

“The beauty of education is that you’re never too old to learn something new or educate yourself. You can do that your whole life, and it’s important you do,” Bailey summarised.

Terry, endlessly enthusiastic about the chance to learn amongst his GIS classmates, added “I think energy is important, and intellectual curiosity,” and said, “I just want to learn and get better.”

Finally, Wes Morgan looked back at his playing career and realised that learning is always something he has enjoyed.

“I’ve studied different managers and seen the attributes they possess. I’ve taken the best of those and adapted them into my own style and direction I’m heading in. I’d like to go into a senior leadership or management role, and the qualities I’ve taken will definitely help me on my journey.” 

Ready to take the next step?

With students from all walks of life, GIS aims to give you the platform to build your career in sport with the expertise and network needed to succeed. 

Learn from industry leaders, study flexibly around your schedule, and join a growing network of alumni by applying for one of our courses today.Article by Zakaria Anani