Powell highlights importance of life after football

Hope Powell says it is important that her players think about their next steps once their career in football comes to the end.

James Hilsum

2020-01-30T16:45:00Z

Hope Powell speaks to the media ahead of Sunday's game.

Powell was asked about comments made by former Chelsea defender Claire Rafferty, who claimed she felt 'lost' after her playing career finished, and wants her Albion players to ensure they have a plan after football.

She said, “The girls are an intelligent bunch. We have a few players doing degrees and we've got a couple doing Masters too. They’re a very bright bunch. We have some taking their coaching licenses through the PFA.

“A lot of them are in education, which is something I very much encourage because I feel that it is very important.

“The players need to ask themselves, ‘what next?’ Women in Football offer a number of good courses, and they have been in to speak to the players.

“We’re trying to support them in the best way we can. First and foremost, it is about the football but, having been a player myself, it’s really important to think about life after football."

The Albion manager also spoke about her responsibility to look after a player’s wellbeing both on and off the pitch, and how she can aid their development away from the game.

She said, “Undoubtedly it’s going to become so important going forward, and I’m sure Claire [Rafferty] is not the first to have those feelings of being lost and she won’t be the last. As a manager, I feel that I have a duty of care to help people.

“It’s now important we look at the younger players who have only known the life of professional football. It’s a short career, and as is stands today they probably won’t be millionaires. Very few if any will get to that status, so we have a big duty of care for them.”