WHY MOST PLAYERS DROP OUT BEFORE THE AGE OF 20 – AND HOW TO BE AMONG THE FEW WHO GO FURTHER

As a coach and football agent, I see this almost every day – thousands of boys and girls dream of a professional career, but only a few reach the professional level. The statistics are brutal: most players end their serious football adventure before the age of 20. Why does this happen? And what can you do to be among the minority who go further?

1. LACK OF THE RIGHT MENTAL APPROACH
   Many young players have talent, but they lack the mentality of a warrior. They give up when the coach doesn’t pick them, when they lose competition, or when criticism appears. Professional football requires mental toughness – you must endure pressure, rejection, and sometimes years of hard work without any guarantees of success.

Solution: Work on your mind. Read books on sports mentality, work with a sports psychologist, analyze your games, and learn from mistakes. Treat every setback as a lesson.

2. BAD HABITS OFF THE PITCH
   Even the most talented players fail because they don’t take care of recovery, sleep, or nutrition. Lack of discipline in everyday life directly affects performance. Many young players also ignore injuries and instead of recovering, they keep playing, making things worse.

Solution: Treat your body like a work tool. Sleep at least 8 hours, eat like a professional, and treat recovery (rolling, stretching, regeneration) as part of training, not an optional add-on.

3. NO DEVELOPMENT PLAN
   Often, a young player trains in a club but doesn’t know what’s next. They don’t plan trials, don’t work individually on weaknesses, don’t know how to move step by step to a higher level. Lack of vision leads to stagnation.

Solution: Ask yourself: Where do I want to be in 1 year, in 3 years, in 5 years? Set goals and track progress. Look for trials, tournaments, additional training. Treat yourself like a project, not a coincidence.

4. WRONG ENVIRONMENT
   How many players failed because of bad company, lack of family support, or fake advisors? Many young athletes get distracted – parties, alcohol, no focus on football. On top of that, there are “pseudo agents” promising big contracts.

Solution: Choose your environment wisely. Listen to coaches and people with experience. If someone promises you success without hard work – run away.

5. LACK OF PATIENCE
   Some want everything immediately – a contract, a move abroad, a place in the starting lineup. When it doesn’t happen, they quickly give up. Yet the road to professionalism is a marathon, not a sprint.

Solution: Be patient. Every step matters – even playing in a lower league or smaller club can be a springboard. The most important thing is to keep developing and never stop moving forward.

SUMMARY
Most players drop out before the age of 20 not because they lack talent. The main reasons are lack of mentality, bad habits, no plan, wrong environment, and lack of patience.

If you want to be among the few who go further, you must act like a professional before signing your first contract. Your progress does not depend only on training on the pitch – it depends on your entire lifestyle.

A TRUE PLAYER IS A 24/7 PROJECT – ON THE PITCH, AT HOME, AT SCHOOL, AND IN RELATIONSHIPS.