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Not every player who plays in Serie A today was once a youth international. Not everyone grew up in a top academy, and not everyone had an agent opening doors for them. Some fight in silence for years – without cameras, without glory. And some, at a certain point, simply want to stop. Because they don’t see the point anymore.
That was the case for Josh Doig – now a player in Italy’s Serie A, but just a few years ago, a young man who seriously considered walking away from his dream of professional football. He was 23. Tired of instability, lack of recognition, and constant doubt.
"I DIDN’T FEEL GOOD ENOUGH"
Josh started at Hibernian. Then came loans, bench time, and no consistent minutes. At an age when some debut in the Champions League, he was going home wondering if any of this effort even made sense. He trained every day but saw no results. He wasn’t a star. He didn’t have someone constantly telling him, “You’ll make it.”
He wanted to quit. He’d had enough of being stuck in limbo. But he gave himself six more months. He said: “I’ll try one more time. I’ll give everything I have, and if it still doesn’t work – I’ll walk away with a clear conscience.”
Those six months changed everything.
JUST ONE BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT
He returned to the pitch with a new mindset – not to prove anything to others, but finally, to play without fear. Coaches noticed. He got a chance. He played well. Then he played even better. Week after week, he became more important.
Finally – he moved to Italy. Serie A. A dream that was once dead came back to life.
Today Josh Doig not only plays in one of the top leagues in the world – he inspires. Because his story isn’t about a golden boy. It’s about a real journey through crisis, doubt, frustration. It’s a story about how sometimes you have to be one step from quitting to realize how much it means to you.
WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM THIS?
If you’re a young footballer going through a hard time – no minutes, injuries, rejection from a club – remember this:
You’re not the only one suffering in silence.
Not everyone who succeeded had a perfect path. Sometimes all it takes is one decision – not to give up today. To give yourself one more chance. Six months. A month. One season.
You don’t know who’s watching. You don’t know when your 90 minutes will change everything.
CONCLUSION
Many players want to become professionals. But only a few survive the moments when everything around them screams: “Quit.”
If you can survive that – you’re closer than you think.
