Declan Rice reveals he would have worked in football even if he hadn’t turned professional – as England star pens foreword to new children’s book featuring advice from Alessia Russo and Eberechi Eze
- Rice shared his interest in the industry as a whole in ’50 Ways Into Football’
- The Arsenal midfielder is one of the bold names in the new tome
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Declan Rice has revealed that even if he failed to achieve his dream of becoming a professional footballer, he would have continued with a career in the sport.
The England midfielder is preparing for the start of the 2024 European Championship, where he will play a key role for Gareth Southgate’s side.
And Rice has written about his determination to break into the football industry in a new book entitled 50 Ways Into Football by former FA editor Dan Freedman and sports lawyer Daniel Geey.
The Arsenal star wrote the foreword for the book, writing: ‘From an early age I have dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. Luckily for me, that dream came true.
“However, given my love for the game, I know that if I hadn’t made it as a footballer, as so many people don’t, I would still have wanted to have a job in football.
Declan Rice has spoken about his passion for football as more than just a professional in the foreword to a new book
The children’s book aims to help fans understand how to break into the industry as a whole
Rice’s England teammate Eberechi Eze is another who has offered his words of wisdom
‘As a professional footballer I work with a lot of people who have different roles within football and most of these jobs I wouldn’t have known about if I wasn’t in the football world.
‘Whether it’s coaching, analytics or marketing, the variety of jobs in the football world is greater than you think, so whatever you’re good at, there’s something for you!
“Whatever path you choose, if you work hard, believe in yourself and don’t give up, you will be successful.”
The book also includes contributions from some of Rice’s English colleagues Eberechi Eze, Alan Shearer, Alessia Russo, Ella Toone and Brighton’s CEO Paul Barber.
Lioness Ella Toone has also added ideas to the project, which aims to inspire young people
Freedman and Geey added: “The response to the book has been phenomenal. Every professional we told about the project immediately wanted to be involved. Many of us were told the same thing when we were younger: “Forget football and concentrate on getting a good job.”
“We think it’s time to turn that on its head and say to the next generation: if football is what you love and what you’re passionate about, let’s harness that energy and find the right job for you in the industry.’
