Abstract
The aim of this study was to focus on the pre-retirement activities of sub-elite and non-elite football players. The study tried to determine how football players prepare for their second careers and the relationship between their activities and their career choices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 players who had left JFL clubs within five years and had taken up non-competition-related jobs. The survey was conducted on specific activities during active service, reasons for retirement and career choices after retirement. The activities were in chronological order from before retiring from competition to choosing a second career. The results revealed the following behavioral characteristics of the athletes with regard to pre-retirement activities: “building relationships with people outside of competition” and “employment experience”. It was revealed that through these experiences, the players explored their next careers and their suitable jobs while they were still active, and that these proactive orientations influenced their choice of occupation after retirement.
