'You have to think about the players' - Manuel Akanji hints about early retirment from Football

Manchester City's centre-back, Manuel Akanji, has made a bold statement about retiring at the age of 30 due to the demanding schedule of elite football. 

At 29, he has already played seven matches for club and country this season. Akanji's tight schedule included playing for Switzerland until July 6 in Euro 2024, followed by starting the 2024-25 season with Manchester City on August 10 in the Community Shield. With City's participation in the expanded Champions League next week, featuring eight league phase fixtures before the knockout rounds, and culminating in the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup final scheduled for July 13, Akanji's concerns about the increased number of matches in elite football are evident.

Akanji's take on the increasing workload

Akanji regarded the schedule to be very tough and highly demanding. He revealed how players not just think about the current season but also the upcoming seasons. He complained about the shrinking number of holidays in the player's schedule. He mentioned how the matches are almost like an endless loop with very little to no breaks in either summer or winter.

"It's so tough," Akanji said. "You don't just think about this season -- but also next season. Let's say we win the league or cup, then go to the final of the Club World Cup; the Community Shield is three weeks after. So when do we have holidays?" - Akanji addressed in the interview.

"There are no breaks in winter, so if we are lucky we get two weeks and then we need to be back and into next season. Then the next summer it's the World Cup. There's no end to it."- Akanji further added.

Akanji also expressed concerns about the impact of such a demanding schedule on players' fitness. He emphasized that such a schedule is not sustainable in the long term and urged the management to consider the well-being of the players. He believed that continuous rigorous schedules could result in fatigue and increased susceptibility to injuries among players. While acknowledging the importance of hard work for maintaining fitness, he stressed that there is a limit to what players can endure and hinted that if changes are not made, he might consider retiring by the age of 30.

Akanji has participated in 48 club games in each of his last two full seasons at City and is getting ready for a similar workload this term.

Akanji's sentiment is echoed by numerous players and the sport's leading union, FIFPRO.

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