From the grass to the bench: Trajectories of semi-professional soccer players in their transition from playing to coaching

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore retrospectively the transition process and trajectories of semi-professional soccer players into the role of coach. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with soccer coaches. In order to provide a more global view of such transition process, the interview guide and the subsequent thematic analysis took were based on the six levels of the holistic developmental career model (Wylleman et al., 2013). Our results show the existence of three stages in this transition: (a) the dream goes away, (b) the call, (c) the bench; and a more structural central theme that appears throughout the three stages: (d) multidimensional trajectory. Participants follow trajectory that are unremarkable, but safe and adaptive, and report that it allows them to have more vocational options or to devote themselves to other spheres of life such as family. Making these trajectories visible may help clubs, unions, federations and political institutions to provide the necessary educational resources to facilitate reconciliation during this transition.