...to think being a Premiership Footballler is one of the best jobs in the world?

Nah, I wouldn't take that, over a 9-5 where I can WFH as much as I like, weekends off and pick my holidays. I can't imagine anything worse than being a professional sports person.

Being stuck together for long hours with your team, even if you hate them. Endless hotel rooms, flights, and buses. Pressure, where doing your best just isn't always enough to get good results.

Having to move every few years, to whichever club offers most money, regardless of what your family think. Antisocial hours. No thanks!

My dream job would be Vice Chancellor of a major university. They earn fabulous salaries. At the University of Oxford, total pay packages for the VC can reach over £600,000 to £1 million. These salaries remain a massive point of contention—especially when universities are dealing with cuts, redundancies, and industrial action over staff. In fact such individuals have rare management skills capable of running complex international organizations. VCs spend a significant portion of their time lobbying government officials, forming international partnerships with other institutions, and acting as the public face of the university in the media.

I think premiership footballers are paid too much but they do usually have to give everything from a young age. I know a few young lads who have been through various football academy's over the years & they've spent their childhood travelling, playing, training etc & have missed out on so much of a 'normal childhood'. They are currently being released due to injury, not being good enough etc & it's a real worry as to how they will cope as they've been used to a very busy & structured set up from a young age & the academy's don't do enough to support them in my opinion.

I've actually thought this! Coldplay are HUGE & very wealthy but other than Chris Martin I wouldn't be able to pick the others out of a line up. They've got the right idea.

Well yes Captain obvious.

About 10 years ago, I was making conversation with a mum I'd just met, during a work do. Typical conversation, how old are your kids, what are they studying, what would they like to do...

She told me her son was big into football...I couldn't help smiling internally thinking...don't they all, don't they all...

He is now on the English National Team, big big name 🤣🤣🤣

Don't ask who, I won't divulge!

Nah my dream career was being a pop singer. One day a record label scout will be walking around sunny Macclesfield or somewhere and they’ll hear me ordering at the chippy and they’ll just know I’ve got the voice to give Adele a run for her money. Then it’s all sparkly outfits, hair extensions, choreography and bumming around on Saturday night chat shows next to Jonathan Ross and Kermit the Frog. While being paid so much that my manager can embezzle millions and still leave me enough for the legal fees to get my rights back if the label get bought out by people who really hate kittens.
…I’ll get back to lesson planning now. 🤣

I’d go for Drummer in Coldplay (or similar)

Travel, money, influence, rockstar vibes but still able to walk down the street without being hassled!

For me it would be there was always another player who was younger, fitter, or luckier ready to take my spot.
But I guess the huge salary might mean even a couple of weeks at the top might be enough.

no bloody way could I coach or manage. So stressful!

I fancy golf caddy.

carry a bag.
look pensive
earn a fortune without needing to actually be able to play the sport

On the other hand, your job would last until you were 32 at best, you'd never be able to celebrate Xmas with your family, because you'd have a game on boxing day, your diet would be restricted and your club may fine you if you break their diet rules. You'd never, ever be allowed to say what you really felt in public, only what the club deemed acceptable for you to say.

even if you had to work alongside the biggest arsehole in the world you'd have to keep quiet about it.

and all this would be part of your life from being as young as seven.

and even at that age, you'd have to accept that a club could and will chuck you out if they don't think you are good enough.

not something I'd like to have experienced.

but I agree, the dream of suddenly manifesting as a Prem Footballer, without having had to put in the work to get there, sounds pretty amazing.

Yes, people think of the money but there must be a huge amount of stress that comes with all of the scrutiny.

Constant threat of a career ruining injury, low education levels due to focus on football so few other options, constant media interest, harassment of your partner and children online, stress of playing badly and being dropped, vitriol from opposing fans - I think it sounds pretty awful really…

Weirdly, DH and I were having a similar conversation recently. But I said that I'd want to be a premiership football team manager. Get myself a nice 5 year contract, paying me hundreds of thousands of pounds a week, I'd do a shit job because I know nothing about football and they'd sack me, but I'd still get the money as if I'd been there 5 years! I'd be set for life!