Key Takeaways Retirement can be challenging for former footballers due to the loss of routine and competitive edge.
Former football stars often transition to coaching or punditry, but Diego Forlan has taken up a new sport.
The 45-year-old recently debuted in a new sport to the surprise of many. ✕ Remove Ads
Retirement is difficult for anyone. All the spare time in the world seems like a blessing, but filling up said time with something rewarding can be tricky. This can be especially the case for footballers. Not having the routine of going to training every morning, or not getting the high of playing in front of thousands every week can be detrimental to them, which is why so many struggle.
As they retire so young (most in their mid-to-late 30s but some much earlier), these stars have to try and turn their hand to something new. For many, it is either coaching or punditry. Others may have built up a strong enough financial portfolio that they can invest in businesses and real estate. However, others can be more rogue than that.
One such example is Diego Forlan. The former Uruguay and Manchester United striker was always a livewire on the pitch – once made abundantly clear when he tried to continue a match while simultaneously trying to put his shirt back on having taken it off when celebrating a goal. However, now 45 years old, Forlan has turned his attention to not just a new career, but also to an entirely new sport.
Related 15 Greatest South American Players in Premier League History [Ranked] From Sergio Aguero to Alisson Becker, there have been plenty of South American talents in the Premier League.
Forlan Begins Career as Professional Tennis Debut
The former striker made his debut in the Uruguay Open
On Thursday, Forlan swapped his boots for a racket as the former Villarreal and Atletico Madrid star made his tennis debut in the Uruguay Open. The master of the Jabulani teamed up alongside Federico Coria in a losing effort to the Bolivian duo Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos.
The 45-year-old was warmly received in his home country and, while he and Coria were comfortably beaten 6-1, 6-2, the ex-footballer showed some impressive touches and real moments of quality. Speaking after the match, Forlan said he was grateful for all his friends and family for coming to support him in his new adventure, saying beIN Sports: