The professional careers of former Portuguese football players: a sociodemographic and professional approach

Introduction: The study is aimed to identify sociodemographic and professional characteristics related to the careers of former Portuguese football players. Methodology: The sample consisted of 84 Portuguese former players (48.8 ± 8.2 years old) with at least 8 years of professional experience, w...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eduardo Teixeira, Carlos Silva, Félix Romero, Mauro Miguel, António Vicente
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: FEADEF 2025-07-01
Series:Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.revistaretos.org/index.php/retos/article/view/109791
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849432348979888128
author Eduardo Teixeira
Carlos Silva
Félix Romero
Mauro Miguel
António Vicente
author_facet Eduardo Teixeira
Carlos Silva
Félix Romero
Mauro Miguel
António Vicente
author_sort Eduardo Teixeira
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The study is aimed to identify sociodemographic and professional characteristics related to the careers of former Portuguese football players. Methodology: The sample consisted of 84 Portuguese former players (48.8 ± 8.2 years old) with at least 8 years of professional experience, who finished their careers between 1988 and 2018. Quantitative data was collected from a validated semi-structure interview guide. Results and Discussion: Former Portuguese players had a career of 15.2 ± 3.1 years with more 6.4 ± 2.2 years of youth federated formation. Significant statistical differences were seen between former players with different competitive levels (t(71)=3.843; p=0.001) and international status (t(82)=-2.740; p=0.008). During their careers, 36% accomplish academic formation and 61.9% pursued technical education. Academic habilitation was statistically significant relationships with competitive level (χ2(1)=9.655; ρ=0.002) and international status (χ2(1)=6.930; ρ=0.008), unlike what happened with technical qualification (p>0.05). The majority of former players marry (83.3%) and have children during the career (82.2%). The divorce rate is 15%. Residential mobility is high (8.1 ± 5.55 years). The professional incomes were considered high or very high and 16.7% of former players developed addictions during their career. Conclusion: Former players with higher competitive levels and international status tend to have longer careers. Conversely, they tend to invest less in academic formation. The results reveals that the football career is brief and presents stress and risk factors, mainly at higher competitive levels. The findings contribute to a better understanding and discussion of the professional careers of former Portuguese football players.
format Article
id doaj-art-9ca0fd3d41e24a2d98d4a435668f7c03
institution Kabale University
issn 1579-1726
1988-2041
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher FEADEF
record_format Article
series Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación
spelling doaj-art-9ca0fd3d41e24a2d98d4a435668f7c032025-08-20T03:27:22ZengFEADEFRetos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación1579-17261988-20412025-07-017010.47197/retos.v70.109791The professional careers of former Portuguese football players: a sociodemographic and professional approachEduardo Teixeira0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4326-4175Carlos Silva1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4327-5744Félix Romero2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0472-0799Mauro Miguel3António Vicente4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5028-1275Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém; Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Beira Interior; SPRINT, Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation CenterSport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém; SPRINT, Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation CenterSport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém; Life Quality Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of SantaremSport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém; SPRINT, Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation CenterFaculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Beira Interior; CIDESD, Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development Introduction: The study is aimed to identify sociodemographic and professional characteristics related to the careers of former Portuguese football players. Methodology: The sample consisted of 84 Portuguese former players (48.8 ± 8.2 years old) with at least 8 years of professional experience, who finished their careers between 1988 and 2018. Quantitative data was collected from a validated semi-structure interview guide. Results and Discussion: Former Portuguese players had a career of 15.2 ± 3.1 years with more 6.4 ± 2.2 years of youth federated formation. Significant statistical differences were seen between former players with different competitive levels (t(71)=3.843; p=0.001) and international status (t(82)=-2.740; p=0.008). During their careers, 36% accomplish academic formation and 61.9% pursued technical education. Academic habilitation was statistically significant relationships with competitive level (χ2(1)=9.655; ρ=0.002) and international status (χ2(1)=6.930; ρ=0.008), unlike what happened with technical qualification (p>0.05). The majority of former players marry (83.3%) and have children during the career (82.2%). The divorce rate is 15%. Residential mobility is high (8.1 ± 5.55 years). The professional incomes were considered high or very high and 16.7% of former players developed addictions during their career. Conclusion: Former players with higher competitive levels and international status tend to have longer careers. Conversely, they tend to invest less in academic formation. The results reveals that the football career is brief and presents stress and risk factors, mainly at higher competitive levels. The findings contribute to a better understanding and discussion of the professional careers of former Portuguese football players. https://www.revistaretos.org/index.php/retos/article/view/109791Football (soccer)Former PlayersProfessional Sports CareerPost-careerSociodemographicImpactos sociodemográficos
spellingShingle Eduardo Teixeira
Carlos Silva
Félix Romero
Mauro Miguel
António Vicente
The professional careers of former Portuguese football players: a sociodemographic and professional approach
Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación
Football (soccer)
Former Players
Professional Sports Career
Post-career
Sociodemographic
Impactos sociodemográficos
title The professional careers of former Portuguese football players: a sociodemographic and professional approach
title_full The professional careers of former Portuguese football players: a sociodemographic and professional approach
title_fullStr The professional careers of former Portuguese football players: a sociodemographic and professional approach
title_full_unstemmed The professional careers of former Portuguese football players: a sociodemographic and professional approach
title_short The professional careers of former Portuguese football players: a sociodemographic and professional approach
title_sort professional careers of former portuguese football players a sociodemographic and professional approach
topic Football (soccer)
Former Players
Professional Sports Career
Post-career
Sociodemographic
Impactos sociodemográficos
url https://www.revistaretos.org/index.php/retos/article/view/109791
work_keys_str_mv AT eduardoteixeira theprofessionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach
AT carlossilva theprofessionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach
AT felixromero theprofessionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach
AT mauromiguel theprofessionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach
AT antoniovicente theprofessionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach
AT eduardoteixeira professionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach
AT carlossilva professionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach
AT felixromero professionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach
AT mauromiguel professionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach
AT antoniovicente professionalcareersofformerportuguesefootballplayersasociodemographicandprofessionalapproach