Christian Dailly tackled some of the World’s greatest strikers during his playing days however he has arguably just come out on top of one of his greatest ever challenges after gaining First-class honours on a degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
The former Scotland defender went toe-to-toe with the likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy to name but a few in a career that spanned 21 seasons at nine professional clubs.
The longevity and success of his career was in part due to his commitment to maintaining his physical condition alongside an unquenchable desire to further his knowledge and understanding around elite level performance.
So, in 2012, after retiring at the age of 38, it was an easy choice for him to embark on a new academic pathway in conjunction with The Professional Footballers’ Association, to finally seek answers to questions that have remained unanswered for a long time.
Namely, why and when do sportsmen and women excel and what other factors affect performance?
“I decided that it was about time that I started to use my academic side to further my knowledge and The PFA had sent out some literature talking about a Sports Science degree at Manchester Metropolitan University which was distance learning,” Dailly recalled.
“It (the course) looked great for me. I have a zest for knowledge and am involved in coaching athletes and performance.
“Having that opportunity to access information on a world leading course I decided to go for it and it’s been a fantastic journey which has been really difficult but hugely rewarding.”
Three years after leaving football, Dailly, who is still adored by Scotland and West Ham supporters, for his deeds on the pitch has succeeded in trashing the notion that retirement can bring emptiness and isolation.
Now working as an athletics and sports coach, his new vocation is helping others reach the heights he once aspired to.
“I want to learn and improve but help others become better as well,” he said.
“I think there’s things out there that people (coaches and sports scientists) haven’t worked out and I’m the sort of person who thinks I’m not satisfied with that so my whole idea has been to spend enough time going through the literature so that perhaps I can help others.”
While that ambition is realistic, Dailly also urged current PFA members to help themselves suggesting that the Union’s services can sometimes be overlooked.
“It’s hard to know because I don’t know the ins and outs and what people are using The PFA for but for things like this The PFA have been brilliant.
“They obviously help fund the course for a start which is a massive help and they’ve got great communication so if there’s anything you need or you’re having any problems or issues they have direct contact with the University -it’s been a seamless process.”
Former Sheffield United defender Dominic Roma, juggled his studies at MMU alongside, fatherhood, part-time football with Gainsborough Trinity and his job as a teacher.
Now approaching his 30th birthday, Roma who captains Trinity, emerged with 2:1 degree classification and was equally glowing about the course.
“Each year you have modules to complete that you submit online which also include online tests and you go across to the Cheshire campus to do a one week residential which covers areas like lab testing, taking blood lactate and the physiological aspects of sports science," Roma said.
“It was difficult at the start because it was new and I had to juggle studying as well as playing and planning lessons as a teacher but towards the end of the degree I’d got used to it.
“You pick up lots of tips about how to look after yourself on this degree which has possibility helped me play a little bit longer than I expected to and it’s something I’ve endorsed to the other lads at Trinity who are PFA members who perhaps didn’t realise this sort of thing is open to them via The PFA.
“The PFA have been absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The support I got from the start in giving me all the info I needed to enrol on the course, who I needed to contact, funding towards books and laptops has been brilliant, if you want to get a degree, I’d urge players to contact The PFA because they’ve been spot on," he added.
.jpg)
