The end of an active sports career isn't the end of the world. It's the beginning of something new. And if you think you have no experience outside of sports, you're wrong. You have experience that most people don't -- you just need to know how to use it right.
Take a look at where former professional athletes most commonly end up. Here are the real numbers and positions where you can have a massive advantage over most applicants.
Where Do Former Athletes Go?
& Business
& Mentor
& Leadership
& Business
& Education
1. Sales Positions -- 30%
The Most Common Choice for Former Athletes
30% of athletes go into sales
Why sales?
Because athletic skills are a goldmine in sales. As an athlete, you've spent years training exactly what sales demands most:
- Goal orientation -- you know how to set a target and go after it
- Competitiveness -- you don't settle for average, you want to win
- Pressure tolerance -- you're used to performing under pressure
- People skills -- communicating with clients comes naturally
- Rejection doesn't break you -- as an athlete, you're used to losing and getting back up
The best thing about sales? It doesn't require formal education. Most companies will teach you the product, systems, and techniques. They mainly need your energy, persistence, and drive to win -- exactly what you have.
Tip: Many former athletes start in sales with zero experience and become top performers within a year. The key is that they don't lose motivation after rejection -- something most people can't do.
2. Management Positions -- 20%
Leading Teams and Projects
20% of athletes become managers
Why management?
A manager isn't an expert at everything -- they're someone who knows how to lead people, communicate, and handle pressure. Just like a team captain.
For years, you trained in an environment where you had to collaborate with coaches, physiotherapists, teammates, and club management. You learned to:
- Motivate others -- you know how to get the best out of people
- Set goals -- you know how to break a long-term goal into steps
- Take responsibility -- you're used to being accountable for results
- Communicate across teams -- you can "translate" between different types of people
- Decide under pressure -- quick decisions in crisis situations are your strength
That's why athletes are so successful in management positions -- they combine discipline, team thinking, and the ability to make fast decisions under pressure.
The Mental Edge: 25 Mental Techniques for Athletes
Stressed about interviews? Master your nerves with techniques from a sports mental coach.
Learn more →3. Coach, Mentor, or Instructor -- 23%
A Natural Transition From Active Sports
23% of athletes return to sports as coaches
Why coaching?
It's the most natural transition. During years of active competition, you watched your coaches -- how they explain, motivate, organize training. You naturally learned to:
- Pass on experience -- you know what works and what doesn't
- Motivate others -- you understand the athlete's mindset
- Spot potential -- you can recognize talent and strengths
- Work with people -- everyone learns differently, and you get that
- Build long-term relationships -- coaching isn't just about technique, it's about trust
Plus, you stay in the world you understand. You don't have to learn a new environment from scratch -- you transition from the role of player to the role of mentor.
4. Entrepreneurship -- 10%
Building Your Own Business
10% of athletes become entrepreneurs
Why entrepreneurship?
Because it has similar dynamics to elite sports -- every day brings new challenges, uncertainty, and performance pressure.
- Persistence -- failure doesn't break you
- Discipline -- nobody tells you what to do
- Fast decisions -- you need to act, not wait
- Risk tolerance -- no risk, no reward
- Personal brand -- your name is your product
Most athletes start businesses in areas they know well and where they can leverage their experience and connections -- typically fitness, marketing, nutrition, or sales.
Good news: Athlete-entrepreneurs have an advantage because they already have a fan base that trusts them. Your name and your story are your biggest marketing asset.
5. Finance & Education -- 5%
Analytical Positions
5% of athletes go into finance or education
Why finance and education?
Because they use analytical thinking, data work, planning, and patience that you developed in sports:
- Long-term planning -- you know how to break down season preparation
- Working with numbers -- tracking stats, analyzing performance
- Patience -- results don't come immediately, and you understand that
- Systematic approach -- you know success is about process, not luck
Conclusion: You're Not Without Experience
The fact that an athlete can't find a job doesn't mean they're not qualified. They just don't know where to aim, or they're applying for positions that don't match their strengths.
If you don't have experience outside of sports yet, in these positions you'll have a massive advantage over most people -- because your athletic skills are exactly what these professions need.
Your career after sports can be even more successful than the sports one. You just need to know where to go.
Find out what skills companies want from athletes: Transferable Skills From Sports.