FINDING A JOB, AFTER A CAREER IN SPORT
- May 15
- 5 min read
The silent struggle athletes face after retiring & entering the work force
When Alia Guagni, the captain of FC Como Women and a stalwart of Italian football, took to the pitch for her final match, she did so with a powerful message emblazoned on her jersey: her resume. This bold statement wasn't just a personal farewell; it was a clarion call highlighting the precarious reality many female athletes face upon retirement. Guagni's gesture underscored a systemic issue: the lack of sustainable support and opportunities for women transitioning out of professional sports.
“I was fortunate to have a plan, but balancing preparation for the future with the demands of professional sport is never simple. A career on the pitch has a natural end. Ensuring there’s a beginning after that end should be part of the journey. Why not help the champions of tomorrow start building their futures today?” - Alia Guagni (The Guardian, 2025)
The Financial Disparity in Women's Sports
The financial disparity between male and female athletes remains a pressing issue in 2025. Despite increased visibility and success of women's sports, compensation continues to lag significantly behind men's earnings.
In basketball, the contrast is particularly stark. Caitlin Clark, the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, signed a rookie contract worth approximately $76,535 per year. In comparison, NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama secured a contract valued at $12.7 million annually, highlighting a pay difference exceeding 160 times (HoopsHype, 2024; Sports Illustrated, 2024).
Soccer presents similar disparities. While Premier League players earn an average of £67,000 per week, players in the Women's Super League average only £47,000 per year. This significant gap underscores the ongoing financial challenges faced by female footballers (William Hill, 2024; FourFourTwo, 2024).
Even among top earners, the gap persists. In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list of highest-paid athletes with earnings of $275 million, while the highest-earning female athlete, Coco Gauff, earned $34.4 million—nearly 90% less (Forbes, 2025; Forbes, 2024).
These disparities are not solely due to performance but are reflective of systemic issues, including unequal sponsorship opportunities, media coverage, and investment in women's sports. Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts from governing bodies, sponsors, and media outlets to ensure equitable treatment and compensation for female athletes.
This economic gap means that, unlike many male athletes who can retire comfortably, female athletes often face financial uncertainty post-retirement. Guagni's initiative, supported by FC Como Women, aimed to shed light on this issue, emphasizing the need for systemic change to ensure that female athletes are not left vulnerable after dedicating their lives to sport (The Guardian, 2025).
The Identity Crisis Post-Retirement
Beyond financial concerns, retirement brings about a profound identity shift for athletes. From a young age, many tie their sense of purpose and self-worth to performance, competition, and achievement. When the cheering stops, many struggle with a loss of direction. Studies have shown that up to 20% of former athletes experience mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, during this transitional period (Cycling Weekly, 2024).
For female athletes, this identity crisis is often compounded by societal expectations, a lack of visible post-retirement pathways, and fewer role models. The transition is not just about finding a new job—it’s about redefining an entire identity.
The College Athlete Conundrum
The challenge is not exclusive to the pros. College athletes face similar uncertainties. With only 2% of NCAA athletes going on to play professionally, the vast majority must pivot to new careers after graduation (Global Sport Matters, 2019). Yet, many collegiate athletic departments fall short in preparing athletes for life beyond the playing field.
According to research from Boston University’s Career Development Lab, former NCAA athletes frequently report feeling unprepared for the workforce and underserved by career transition resources (Boston University, 2020). Despite being skilled in leadership, time management, and resilience, many lack the tangible career guidance and mentorship needed to effectively enter other professional arenas.
The Internship Gap for Athletes
While their non-athlete peers are building resumes through internships and early professional experiences, many college and professional athletes simply don’t have the time or financial flexibility to do the same. According to the NCAA, student-athletes spend over 30 hours per week on athletic responsibilities, excluding travel and other team commitments (NCAA, 2022). These time demands often make it nearly impossible to pursue internships during the academic year or summer months.
For athletes at Division II and III levels—where scholarships are often partial or nonexistent—the challenge is compounded by financial pressure. Many of these athletes must work part-time jobs to afford tuition and living expenses, but these jobs are typically chosen based on scheduling flexibility rather than alignment with long-term career goals. A 2020 NCAA GOALS study reported that fewer than 23% of student-athletes participated in internships while in school, compared to nearly 60% of their non-athlete classmates (NCAA, 2020). This disparity contributes to a post-sport employment gap, leaving athletes with less industry experience and fewer connections at the critical point of career transition.
Initiatives Making a Difference
Recognizing the unique challenges athletes face after retirement, several organizations have developed support systems aimed at career transition. One of the most prominent is Athlete365 Career+, an initiative of the International Olympic Committee. The program provides resources for education, life skills training, and employment assistance, helping athletes navigate life after elite competition. Since its launch, Career+ has supported over 40,000 athletes worldwide in areas ranging from resume building to networking and mentorship opportunities (Athlete365, 2024). Additionally, FC Como Women partnered with local sponsors who committed to hiring former players, setting a precedent that other clubs around the world could follow (The Guardian, 2025).
Former athletes themselves are also stepping up to lead by example. Claire Rafferty, a retired England footballer, transitioned into a successful role in sports business. She credits early career planning and adaptability as key to her post-sport success (TalkSport, 2024). These stories offer both inspiration and blueprints for current athletes uncertain about what comes next.
A Call to Action
Alia Guagni’s jersey was more than a farewell; it was a manifesto. It called attention to the urgent need for comprehensive support systems for female athletes transitioning out of sports. That includes financial literacy education, mental health support, career development programs, and strong mentorship networks.
As fans, institutions, and stakeholders, we must take collective responsibility. Investing in the long-term well-being of athletes is not just ethical—it’s essential to the future of sport. Retirement should not feel like falling off a cliff. Instead, it can—and should—be a launchpad into a fulfilling second act.
The final whistle shouldn't signify an end but rather the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunity, growth, and continued impact.
References
Athlete365. (2024). Career+ program: Supporting athletes beyond sport. https://www.olympic.org/athlete365/careerplus/
Boston University. (2020). Life and work after sports: Former NCAA athletes' experiences of athletic retirement and career transition. Center for Career Development. https://sites.bu.edu/careerdevelopmentlab/2020/09/10/life-and-work-after-sports-former-ncaa-athletes-experiences-of-athletic-retirement-and-career-transition/
Cycling Weekly. (2024). “It’s very unlikely I’ll be the best in the world at anything ever again”: How riders deal with life after competing. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/fitness/its-very-unlikely-ill-be-the-best-in-the-world-at-anything-ever-again-how-riders-deal-with-life-when-they-stop-competing
FourFourTwo. (2024). How much are women's footballers paid? https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/how-much-are-womens-footballers-paid
Forbes. (2025). Forbes 2025 World's Highest-Paid Athletes List. https://www.forbes.com/lists/athletes/
Forbes. (2024). Coco Gauff - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/profile/coco-gauff/
Global Sport Matters. (2019). Leaving athletics can be a huge void for former student-athletes. https://globalsportmatters.com/culture/2019/11/26/leaving-athletics-can-be-huge-void-for-former-student-athletes/
HoopsHype. (2024). Victor Wembanyama NBA Salary. https://hoopshype.com/player/victor-wembanyama/salary/
MoneySmart Athlete. (2021). Life after sports for female athletes. https://moneysmartathlete.com/women-athletes/life-after-sports-for-female-athletes/
NCAA. (2020). GOALS Study of the Student-Athlete Experience. https://www.ncaa.org/news/2020/5/19/research-goals-study-highlights-student-athlete-experiences.aspx
NCAA. (2022). Time Demands on Student-Athletes. https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2022/6/15/time-demands.aspx
POP Sugar. (2023). Athletes share how they prepared (or didn’t) for life after retirement. https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/athletes-after-retirement-share-experiences-49418459
Sports Illustrated. (2024). Paige Bueckers Will Have a Bigger WNBA Salary Than Caitlin Clark. https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/news/paige-bueckers-will-have-a-bigger-wnba-salary-than-caitlin-clark-01jr9k2crss2
TalkSport. (2024). Claire Rafferty on navigating retirement, WSL growth, and opportunities for women. https://talksport.com/football/2357235/claire-rafferty-lionesses-england-women-chelsea-wsl-transfers/
The Guardian. (2025). Como defender prints CV on shirt to highlight post-career difficulties for female players. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/12/como-defender-prints-cv-on-shirt-to-highlight-post-career-difficulties-for-female-players
William Hill. (2024). Premier League Salaries - How Much Do Players Earn? https://news.williamhill.com/football/premier-league/premier-league-salaries/
Comments