Man City’s Genius Could Retire At 30

Man City superstar Manuel Akanji joked about the possibility of hanging up his boots at just 30 due to the relentless schedule of matches in the elite football calendar. The 29-year-old has already clocked in seven appearances for both his club and national team this season. He concluded last season on July 6, as Switzerland faced elimination from Euro 2024. Fast forward to August 10, Akanji kicked off the new 2024-25 campaign in England with the Community Shield match against Arsenal.

Akanji Jokes About Retiring At 30

Later this week, Man City kick off their journey in the newly expanded Champions League against Inter Milan. The new Champions League format will see Man City play eight league phase fixtures before advancing to the knockout stage. As the season comes to a close, they will play in the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, with the final on July 13.

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.

Akanji has had 48 club appearances for Man City in each of his two seasons at the club. The Switzerland international is gearing up for a comparable load this season.

It’s just game after game and I don’t know how it will work out over the next couple of years, he added. 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.

The Elite Football Calendar A Bane?

Akanji becomes the latest Man City player to express his frustration over the utterly ridiculous football schedule. Bernardo Silva also expressed that he currently has “very little time” to spend with his family, attributing this to the demanding fixture schedule. Akanji’s feelings resonate with numerous players and the leading organization in the sport, FIFPRO. In June, FIFPRO took a bold step by filing a legal claim against FIFA, the governing body of world football. The claim centers on the legality of FIFA’s unilateral power to dictate the football calendar and the controversial decision to establish and schedule the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

What Next For Akanji

Akanji played 90 minutes in Man City’s 2-1 victory against Brentford on Saturday. The 29-year-old is set to rejoin Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Champions League tournament. Man City will kick off their campaign on Wednesday, playing against Inter Milan in one of the eight opening matches.