Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has said he may retire at 30 due to the growing number of matches in football’s congested calendar.
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On loaded calendar
Akanji, 29, has played seven games for both club and country this season.
The Swiss international last featured for Switzerland on July 6, when his dife was eliminated from EURO 2024.
He then started for Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 10.
“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?
“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.”
Manchester City kick off their campaign in the expanded Champions League next week, playing eight league-phase fixtures before the knockout rounds begin. They finish the season in the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, with the final set for July 13.
Akanji might retire at 30
Akanji isn’t the only one frustrated with the congested football calendar.
His City teammate, Kevin De Bruyne, has also voiced his concerns, criticizing UEFA and FIFA for allowing “money to speak louder than the players’ voices.”
Meanwhile, FIFPRO’s European member unions have initiated legal action against FIFA over the expanded 32-team men’s Club World Cup.
“It’s just game after game and I don’t know how it will work out over the next couple of years,” Akanji said. “You can’t just keep adding game after game and assume everything will be like it was. You have to think about the players as well.
“At some point you’ll be too tired to play any more games. And then come injuries, definitely. We train as hard as possible and we are fit — but there has to be a limit. Maybe I’ll retire at 30.”
