Liverpool FC and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has just announced the launch of The After Academy, a new initiative that will provide career opportunities for former academy players who wish to launch a new career path outside of professional football.
Last year, the Liverpool academy graduate posted on social media, asking for accounts of released academy players to reach out about how their football experiences had affected them. Many of those who shared with Trent felt their time in a football academy had negatively affected their education, career prospects, and mental health — issues that Trent had witnessed first-hand through his peers growing up.
As per Abertay University, a study showed that 55% of players from football academies suffered from clinical levels of psychological distress within 21 days of being released. Mental issues from players after being released can come in the form of anxiety, PTSD, and various negative feelings and emotions.
With this in mind, Alexander-Arnold’s new initiative will work in collaboration with his current club Liverpool FC, while also partnering with brands such as Red Bull, Under Armour, and Therabody, to offer opportunities to released ballers such as jobs, work placements, and internships across various departments.
The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) will also join The After Academy as a supporting partner, acting as a body that regularly supports former academy players. The PFA will not only ensure work opportunities land in front of the right people, but it will also further equip members of the initiative to provide education, career, and well-being counseling for all current and former scholars.
Speaking about his new initiative, Trent Alexander-Arnold said: “I loved my time at the Liverpool Football Academy, it gave me everything I have today and I’m so grateful to be in the position I’m in. That feeling of lifting trophies for your childhood club is magical and I wouldn’t swap it for anything in the world, but if things didn’t work out the way they did, I could have been one of those being told the dream is over.
“I’m fortunate to not know what that conversation is like but I know from my friends and other former players how hard it hits and how tough it can be. I’m proud of this program as it looks to give another chance to those who didn’t make it, and I hope it is just a first step towards a brighter future for these young players.”
In other sports news, Raheem Sterling has launched a university scholarship fund initiative.
