Fade Away - When A Player's Time Is Up

It's never easy for a player to accept that they have possibly reached the end of their club career - not necessarily their whole career completely - but at a particular club or at a level of the game. Some are cognisant enough and know it's happening and begin to prepare; others stay in a state of denial. Their game awareness still works fantastically - but maybe the physical side of the game eventually retires you despite all the additional work, rest and individual attention received.

And it's also the same with iconic players. Scorers of important goals, fan favourites, etc - the fans also find it hard to let go too! Everyone wants to remember the player as they were, perhaps not as they are. 

Yet managing these situations is never easy for the manager. You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't! So what to do...

This episode explores how there are a number of ways to potentially come to an amicable end where player, coach, club and fans get to give each other the send off they all would prefer - but that also means everyone accepts the path that's about to be taken. And that doesn't always happen and that's when difficulties can occur.