Influence of Organizational Support on Retirement Planning and Financial Management of Professional Soccer Players

All professional athletes have to face is retirement from competitive sport at a younger age than most other individuals. Most non-athletes have a longer period and more established support systems that allow them to plan for their retirement than professional athletes whose retirement from professional sport can be precipitated without warning due to a number of factors which include age, deselection or injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of organizational support on retirement planning and financial management of professional soccer players. A quantitative research approach was used to collect data from a sample of professional soccer players in the Premier Soccer League in South Africa. The results of the study indicate that organizational support strongly influences retirement planning and financial management. Soccer clubs therefore need to have systems in place to assist professional soccer players to plan for their retirement.