Many dream of being an elite footballer, but what’s it like actually earning a professional player’s salary? 

In the second half of this two-part podcast special, Claer Barrett explores the darker side of earning staggering sums as a young player. Unscrupulous financial advisers, risky investments, gambling, injuries and early retirement can all cut short your earning potential - and there are lessons here for all of us. She hears from Gareth Farrelly, a former Premier League footballer who narrowly avoided death - and financial ruin - when his playing career ended, but has now reinvented himself as a top sports lawyer. Plus, former England player Sol Campbell and AFC Bournemouth full-back Jack Stacey reveal how they manage their money, and what listeners can learn from this. 

If you liked the show, please leave a review. Want to be a future guest? Email us at [email protected] or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerB

For more about the business of sport, head to Scoreboard, the FT’s weekly briefing on the key financial issues affecting the global sports industry, at www.ft.com/scoreboard. 

If you enjoyed this episode, check out this Financial Times article by sports reporter Sam Agini https://www.ft.com/content/6d074e57-adf3-494a-98b9-6d0bc169c440

Or this article on the perils of making a fortune at a young age https://www.ft.com/content/a5297c2c-03fe-47e0-b13a-6d20f7d2b3f8

Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner.

Clips: afcbTV

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