Giorgio Chiellini reveals he might not retire next summer, how he found the mental strength to deal with his knee injury and the role he wants after hanging up his Juventus boots.
The defender will turn 36 in August and has just made a full recovery from a devastating ACL injury, which many feared would end his career.
“I think that if it had happened 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have had the peace of mind to accept it,” he told Martina Colombari in an Instagram Live chat.
Giorgio Chiellini reveals he might not retire next summer, how he found the mental strength to deal with his knee injury and the role he wants after hanging up his Juventus boots.
The defender will turn 36 in August and has just made a full recovery from a devastating ACL injury, which many feared would end his career.
“I think that if it had happened 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have had the peace of mind to accept it,” he told Martina Colombari in an Instagram Live chat.
“At 35, with all the experience I’ve had, I can understand it’s a passing phase and you turn that into the energy to recover. I have improved overall in my mentality, because when I was younger, I’d use up a lot of energy by getting angry. I have a fortunate life, so remembering that in bad moments helps you focus that anger.”
Chiellini not only managed to keep up a world class career, but also found time to earn his Masters’ Degree in Business Administration.
“I was already playing in Serie B at 19, so I didn’t get to study. When I had some free time, I thought why just go on the PlayStation? I’d do something different and managed to get the three-year degree done in four years thanks to a study plan.
“There are those who are 17 years old and have so much pressure on them, so many expectations that it ruins their careers. I am grateful that I had trials at Juventus, Inter and Milan, but Livorno insisted on keeping me, because it meant I got to have a normal adolescence.
“In my view, there are two really difficult things about being a professional football player. The first is keeping your feet on the ground, the second is dealing with solitude. You need mental strength within you to emerge from those dark moments. Family also helps, as the business makes you become more egocentric, so at home you’re brought back down to earth.”
Chiellini was asked what he plans to do in future when he hangs up his boots for good.
“I will play another year, then I’ll see how I feel and how my legs hold up. I could retire next summer or have another season after that. I would like to continue in the world of football, probably more a directorial role than management, but you never know in life.
“I hope to be able to play in the delayed Euro 2020, so I can also act as a nanny to the talented young players in the squad. It’s coming full circle.”