Footballer Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Footballer

Hours

Variable
Starting salary

Variable

If you have exceptional footballing talent, and the discipline to work hard to improve your performance level, being a footballer could be ideal for you.

As a professional footballer you would play as part of a team at national and international matches. Depending on the level you play at, you may have other responsibilities like giving media interviews or coaching children.

You'll need to be a very competitive person but also work well in a team. You'll have to keep yourself very fit.

Most professional footballers start learning football skills from around nine or ten years old. They tend to be spotted by club talent scouts playing for youth or school teams and offered a place at the club's Football Academy or Centre of Excellence.

The work

Your day-to-day activities would vary depending on the level of your team, but at all levels you would:

play in matches against other teams in your league
attend regular training sessions to improve your skills and general fitness
work on tactics, sometimes watching videos of matches to analyse your strengths and weaknesses
work with specialists such as physiotherapists, sports psychologists, coaches and your team manager
take advice on diet and lifestyle from nutritionists and doctors.

As a top player you may also give media interviews and be paid to promote products by appearing in adverts.

In the lower leagues you might take part in work in the community, such as helping to coach local children.

Hours

You would usually play in matches in the evening or at weekends, often at times scheduled to suit the media, particularly television companies.

You would travel with your club or national team to away matches all over the UK or abroad, which would involve spending time away from home.

You would train on most days, possibly starting early in the morning.

Income

Individual earnings vary widely depending on the reputation of the player, and on the club. Earnings can also be increased by performance-related bonuses, appearance fees, endorsements and sponsorship.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To have a chance of succeeding as a professional footballer you would usually begin learning football skills at an early age (possibly as young as nine or ten) and would usually be spotted by a club talent scout while playing for a school or youth team.

Most professional clubs run Football Academies or Centres of Excellence, where the most talented players can be trained from the age of nine upwards. Almost all professional footballers train in this way.

After training at an Academy or Centre of Excellence you could be given a professional contract. However, only around 10% of those who train have the opportunity of full-time employment.

Training and development

At a Football Academy or Centre of Excellence you would combine football training with general education. This could lead to A level or equivalent qualifications.

On the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence you would work towards NVQ Level 3 in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance. Check the SkillsActive website for details.

SkillsActive - Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence page

Throughout your career as a footballer you would need to follow a strict training regime to keep up your skills and general fitness.

Your professional playing career would be short, and could be over by the time you are 35. It could also be interrupted or cut short by injury. As a Football League or FA Premiership player and a member of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) you can get advice and guidance on educational and vocational courses which will help you prepare for a second career.

Skills and knowledge

To become a footballer you should have:

exceptional footballing talent
a competitive nature
self-discipline
commitment to improving your performance
teamworking skills
a high level of fitness and stamina
the ability to cope with the stress of top matches
persistence and determination.

More information

Sport Northern Ireland (Opens new window)

House of Sport
Upper Malone Road
Belfast BT9 5LA
Tel: 028 9038 1222
www.sportni.net

Sportscotland (Opens new window)

www.sportscotland.org.uk

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) (Opens new window)

City Sports Centre off
Northumberland Road
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST
Tel: 0191 243 7356
www.tass.gov.uk

Sport England (Opens new window)

www.sportengland.org

Football Association (Opens new window)

www.thefa.com

Scottish Football Association (Opens new window)

Hampden Park
Glasgow
G42 9AY
www.scottishfa.co.uk

SkillsActive (Opens new window)

Castlewood House
77-91 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1PX
Advice line: 08000 933300
www.skillsactive.com

Opportunities

There are 20 clubs in the Premier League and 24 each in the Championship, First and Second Leagues. You could progress by transferring to a club higher in the league.

Although players who make it to the top of the profession achieve glamorous lifestyles and very high salaries, very few players reach this level, and many move into other careers after completing their apprenticeship at a club.

In some countries women play football professionally, but in England they play only at amateur level.

If you want to stay in sport after your playing career ends you could move into areas such as coaching, refereeing, team management, sports journalism or sports centre work.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The sport and recreation industry is part of the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, represented by SkillsActive Sector Skills Council. This sector is based on leisure and recreation and includes: health and fitness; playwork; the outdoors; and the caravan industry. The UK active leisure, learning and well‐being sector currently employs 663,300 people, representing just over 2% of the UK workforce, and an estimated 1.9 million volunteers in England (equating to 54,000 full‐time equivalents). There are an estimated 39,800 workplaces, of which 74% employ 10 or less people. Much of the workforce work in a part‐time capacity (47%) and seasonal employment is important for outdoors, caravans and playwork, which attract students and other temporary workers.

The UK sport and recreation industry covers the full range of sports provision from grass roots community projects through to professional sports men and women at the peak of their performance. It also incorporates the day‐to‐day running of amateur and professional sports clubs, and the promotion of an active and healthy lifestyle. The structure of the industry is largely determined by the nature of provision; that is, whether its operators are publicly funded, private, not‐for‐profit, or charitable/voluntary organisations. Sport and recreation includes a variety of types of organisations, with a range of funding channels or support, ranging from commercial sports with large facilities to smaller sport clubs running on a charitable basis.

London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has put the UK’s sporting provision (both competitive and recreational) in the spotlight. The industry will play an essential role in ensuring that the delivery of the Games is effective and that the nation benefits from a lasting Olympic legacy.

Key facts:

There are 371,800 people working in the sport and recreation industry, together with a significant number of volunteers.
41% of the workforce is employed full‐time, 48% part‐time and 11% self‐employed.
Around 32% of the workforce is aged 16‐24 year olds; this is higher than the 14% recorded across the UK workforce as a whole.
25% of the adult population in England are members of club where they take part in sport (10 million people).
17.5% of the adult population in England received tuition to improve their performance in sport during 2007/08.
Over 6 million adults participated in organised competitive sport in 20087/09.
There are over 1,177,000 regularly practicing coaches in the UK.

Jobs in the industry include: sports development officer, community sports development officer, club/coach development officer, activity team leader, professional athlete, sports physiotherapist, team doctor, strength and conditioning coach, coach educators, psychologist, biomechanist, masseur, dietician, nutritionist, coach, official (club, county, regional, national, international), recreation/leisure assistant, sports/leisure manager, events manager, volunteer co‐ordinator, groundskeepers, stewards.

National and regional data

East Midlands – There are 44,300 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 27,200 are employed in the sport and recreation industry. The region has a strong sports infrastructure. It hosts a number of world class facilities including: the National Ice Centre; the National Water Sports Centre; the National Cricket Academy; the Nottinghamshire Tennis Centre; golf courses, such as Belton Woods, and the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa; and racecourses at Nottingham, Leicester, Southwell, Market Rasen and Towcester, with Burleigh House hosting the annual International Horse Trials. There are also a range of professional sports club located in the region. Industry skills gaps in the region include: sport specific technical skills; first aid; and child protection.

East of England – There are 61,400 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 36,800 are employed in the sport and recreation industry. The region has a broad and exciting sporting heritage hosting a number of sporting and recreational facilities, including: football stadiums in Ipswich and Norwich; British horseracing headquarters; Snetterton racing circuit; Norfolk Broads; and Grafham Water sailing centre.

London – There are 70,200 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 45,200 are employed in the sport and recreation industry. London has a rich mix of active leisure and learning facilities, high profile sporting clubs and venues and hosts a wide range of international, national, regional and local events. The most important forthcoming sporting event for the region is the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is expected to bring a number of long term benefits to the region, including substantial investment and development in the sporting infrastructure in London. Industry skills gaps in the region include: sport specific technical skills; communication; management; initiative; first aid; child protection; project management; and working with people with disabilities.

North East – There are 24,500 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 14,900 are employed in the sport and recreation industry. The region is home to a number of high profile sporting clubs including: Sunderland, Newcastle United and Middleborough football clubs; Durham County Cricket Team; Rugby Union Newcastle Falcons team; and the Newcastle Vipers ice hockey team. The North East has 20 facilities listed in the London 2012 Pre‐Games Training Camps Guide and 4 universities providing sports provision recognised in the 2012 Training Camps Guide. Industry skills gaps in the region include: sport specific technical skills; communication; first aid; team‐working; health and safety; working with disabled people; child protection; and initiative.

North West – There are 65,700 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 38,300 are employed in the sport and recreation industry. The region has a rich sports infrastructure. It is home to: a number of professional football teams; a county cricket club and a test match venue in Lancashire; SuperLeague rugby clubs; a number of first class golf courses; the world’s biggest horse race (the Grand National at Aintree); and other race courses at Haydock, Chester, Carlisle and Cartmel. Industry skills gaps in the region include: sport specific technical skills; communication; initiative; team‐working; planning and preparing work; child protection; and first aid.

South East – There are 96,700 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 62,300 are employed in the sport and recreation industry. The region hosts a range of high profile sporting venues and events, including: Eton Dorney; National Hockey Centre; Brands Hatch; and Cowes. A high percentage of English athletes funded under the world class programmes are based in the South East. Two of the nine UK Sports Institutes are based in the region at Bisham Abbey and Bisley. Industry skills gaps in the region include: sport specific technical skills; first aid; child protection; communication; management; and planning and preparing work.

South West – There are 53,700 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 28,100 are employed in the sport and recreation industry. The region is host to a number of high profile sporting events and venues including: Cheltenham Gold Cup; Badminton Horse Trials; European surfing at Newquay; sailing at Weymouth; and World Half Marathon in Bristol. Industry skills gaps in the region include: sport specific technical skills; communication; management; team‐working; planning and preparing work; initiative; project management; and problem solving.

West Midlands – There are 48,200 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 28,600 are employed in the sport and recreation industry. The region hosts a range of high‐profile sporting venues, clubs and events, including: The National Indoor Arena (NIA) in Birmingham, which has staged over 40 major international sporting events since it opened in 1991; several football Premiership/Championship Clubs; high‐profile professional clubs in rugby and basketball; successful cricket, hockey and athletics clubs; the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall, which is part of the English Institute of Sport (EIS); the Belfry, a world‐class golf course; Warwickshire County Cricket Ground in Edgbaston; a regional indoor training centre at Worcester Rugby Club; and a number of racecourses. Industry skills gaps in the region include: sport specific technical skills; communication; management; team‐working; initiative; and planning and preparing work.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 51,900 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 29,900 are employed in the sport and recreation industry. The region has a strong sporting infrastructure and is home to a cluster of sports science, technology, medicine and economics research and development units. The region is home to a range of professional sports clubs and 11 venues feature in the London 2012 Pre‐Games Training Camp Guide. Industry skills gaps in the region include: sport specific technical skills; communication; child protection; initiative; and management.

Northern Ireland – There are 10,738 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 8,100 are employed in the sport and recreation industry.

Scotland – There are 58,200 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 36,800 are employed in the sport and recreation industry.

Wales – There are 29,500 people employed in the active leisure, learning and well‐being sector, of which 15,600 are employed in the sport and recreation industry.

[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry (GB), 2007, Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry, 2005 and Labour Force Survey (Annual average), 2008.]