Robert Pires was part of Arsenal’s “invincibles”, the team that went unbeaten throughout the 2003-2004 season.
He was named in the Premier League team of the year three times in the early 2000s and won both the Premier League and the FA Cup on two occasions.
Also read: Thursday’s Premier League rumours
– Difficult to accept
Now the 50-year-old opens up about the challenges of hanging up his shoes after a long career.
– I didn’t want to quit, because I had played football for 19 seasons, and that meant everything to me. Even now, football is my life and in my blood. That is why it was so difficult to accept that it was over, says Pires in an interview with The Guardian.
The Frenchman sought help from Stephane Ehrhart – a friend from his time at Villarreal – who later became Uefa’s “career change expert”.
– When you play, it’s the best job in the world, and you don’t think about life after football. That’s why it was so important for me to meet Stephane – he made me think about what happens when it’s all over. He gave me good advice and explained the challenges I was going to face, says Pires.
40 percent go bankrupt
According to The Guardian, 30 per cent of professional footballers are divorced after their careers, and it is estimated that around 40 per cent go into personal bankruptcy within five years of their career ending.
Ehrhart believes that there are three areas in particular that are affected: Failing physical health because the former players no longer train, lack of network with friends because they no longer have the dressing room, and the effect it has on family life.
– When I spoke to Robert for the first time, I was quite surprised. This guy was doing so well and had played at the highest level in several countries but had no idea what he wanted to do when he quit. I thought that when someone at this stage of their career doesn’t have a clue of what to do next, there are some holes in the system, says Ehrhart.
Ehrhart has spoken to football players who have spoken to several former players who say they feel like they have died when they stop playing.
– We try to present them with the challenge they will face. It’s like riding a motorcycle, and then there’s a wall at the end of the road, but you don’t know where it is. We explain to them that there is a wall and that they are going to hit it anyway. If you don’t do anything, you’re going to hit it full speed, says Ehrhart.
– You have to be careful
Pires currently works as an expert on French TV and as an ambassador for Arsenal.
He is also clear that former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger played an important role in his transition from player to retired football player.
– It was very difficult for me. My contract with Aston Villa expired and the next day I said ‘no, come on! I want to play football.” I had lost my speed but still thought I could play. So I said to Wenger “Boss, can I train with you every morning?”. He said “of course”, says Pires.
– It was very good for me, but it was difficult not to be a proper player anymore. For me it was very special to be in the dressing room every day, but now I don’t have that anymore and it feels like I’ve lost something.
He believes that today’s footballers must be given more advice about life after their careers end.
– You have to be very careful because the money disappears so quickly. You earn well when you play, but the other part of life is very long, and you have to prepare for it, says Pires.
