Raheem Sterling hints at career change as Arsenal ace reveals plans to ‘do qualification… but not on coaching side’
RAHEEM STERLING has hinted at what is next after hanging up his playing boots, but does not want to go down the traditional route.
The Arsenal star bagged his first goal for the club since his loan transfer from Chelsea in the 5-1 win over Bolton in midweek.
The 29-year-old has come in as an experienced head who knows how to win titles, and hopes to see that rub off on his team-mates in their bid to win a first Premier League title since 2004.
However, Sterling has now opened up on what he wants to do later on, and does not want to follow the traditional route many players take by going into coaching.
Speaking in Arsenal‘s matchday programme ahead of their clash with Leicester, Sterling said: “I don’t know about coaching yet, but maybe something to do with working with young players and trying to help them handle what’s next and prepare them for that.
“I get real joy out of helping people. Being any sort of help to people on a football pitch gives me real joy, so it might not be coaching but something along those lines, working with players, but not maybe as a traditional coach.
“More about helping the young players with different things, but I don’t know – it’s a way off yet. That’s something for the future.
“There is a qualification I want to do, not on the coaching side, but I will focus on playing first I think.”
Sterling has already set up a charity foundation in his name to that end, aiming to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
But the former Liverpool and Manchester City star revealed one aspect of the game he loves.
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So much so that he will emulate the role when watching football matches at home.
He said: “I absolutely love the analysis side. That’s my favourite part of it now. Doing the analysis on your opponents, knowing what they are going to do and what you have to do against them.
“I just think it’s amazing, because that is football. You have to be totally prepared for anything the opposition can throw at you, and then you have to be more ready than them to deal with it.
“I think whoever does that side of the game better more consistently will come out on top. I love it when we do that with the coaches and that’s something I would like to be involved with as well.
“I think it’s really interesting and when I’m in those meetings, I love listening to their analysis and making the plans.
“When I’m watching the game at home I always like to try and identify what both teams are doing.
“Not just watching the game or what’s happening but really see why certain things are happening or why they aren’t.
“I think that’s a side of the game that’s really grown in the past few years, and the environments I’ve been in have allowed me to see the game more in that way.”