I fell out of love with football after Manchester United release and now I'm looking to help
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe end of any football career can be daunting and for many, acclimatising to life without the structure and routine of a professional sport is difficult.
In recent years, there have been a rise in cases of footballers slipping into wrong habits or fading into obscurity after struggling to come to terms with being an ex-professional.
Michael Lea, 36, joined Manchester United at the age of 11 after a stint with rivals Liverpool. However, his journey at Old Trafford came to an end in 2008 but fortunately for the defender, who had the capability to play left-back and centre-back, he managed to avoid slipping out of the game by signing for Scunthorpe United in League One.
However, his journey through professional sport was a difficult one - managing appearances and before long, questions arose for Lea whether there was life outside of football. READ MORE: How Amrabat and Amad have improved United READ MORE: Some United players are playing their way into the cup final XI The struggles in the professional game for Lea are echoed throughout the sport.
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