Finn Tapp is one of the lucky ones.
When he was released by MK Dons in May 2019, he didn't know what was next. There was a real possibility his professional football career was over aged 19. It's a worry that's felt by hundreds of young players each year... and a lot of them struggle to handle it.
Tapp, now 22, moved into non-league football before the opportunity of a lifetime came his way in January 2020. He joined the sixth series of Love Island, winning the hit reality TV show to share the £50,000 prize with his current girlfriend Paige Turley.
It was a defining moment in Tapp's life, yet very few footballers will get the chance to break into the media. Now a household name, the former Oxford City defender wants to use his profile to help the next generation of players to prepare for life after football.
"Recently I went back to my former club MK Dons," Tapp tells Mirror Football . "It was something that I've been thinking about doing for a long time, I really want to get back into the football space and football environment. Right now with other work commitments, I wouldn't be able to - unfortunately - get back to playing week in, week out. Until that time comes where I know I can give 100 per cent, I want to get involved as much as possible.
"I went into MK Dons and I spoke with the youth team boys. They're about to make that transition from academy football to the professional environment and I think a lot of [the time] - especially my experience with it - you're sort of naive to it. I played 54 games in my U18s year and I was thinking 'right, I'm a first team [player] now, so I'll probably be making numerous appearances' and stuff like that.
Do you think Finn Tapp will make a comeback in professional football? Let us know in the comments below!
"I just wanted to go in there and share my experience and perhaps reflect on how it's not plain sailing and there are a lot of challenges that come with it, sacrifices that you have to make. And how to prepare yourself best mentally, as well as physically. We do physical training everyday, whereas I think preparing yourself mentally is just as important."
Tapp joined MK Dons aged eight and worked his way through the ranks to make his first team debut on the eve of his 17th birthday in November 2016. It was a memorable bow, too, as he scored in the 4-1 defeat to Norwich at Carrow Road.
Tapp went on to play three more times for MK Dons - spending time on loan at non-league side Staines Town - before joining Oxford City in the summer of 2019. He went on to play 22 games during the first half of the 2019/20 campaign before heading into the villa.
Although Tapp is enjoying a successful career in the public eye - boasting more than 1.2million followers on Instagram - he still has the desire to make it in professional football. If he pursues a return, it could be in Scotland. The reality TV star is planning on moving north of the border with long-term girlfriend Paige in the near future.
"If I was to go back to it, the decision would need to be made by 25, I think - so three years' time. I'm hoping to live in Scotland not too soon, hoping to be up there by the end of the year. Football's huge up there, as well, so it might even be an angle that I go down - try to work my way into a few Scottish teams. By the age I'm 25, I'd like to be back."
On his move to Scotland, Tapp adds: "We're living in Manchester at the minute and we love Manchester, but I think the whole city life - we're done with it now. We just want a bit more of a relaxing environment and Scotland's perfect for it."
If Tapp does make a comeback, he's hoping his relationship with Robbie Neilson could open some doors. The Hearts boss was in charge of MK Dons between December 2016 and January 2018.
"Hearts are one of the biggest teams in Scotland, so by no means do I think it's going to be an easy walk into there. But it's just whether or not he would have connections... I'm sure I'd be able to have conversations with various people to try to get my foot in the door in different places."
Although Tapp is unsure if his professional career will resume, he's determined to continue offering his advice and support to the next generation. He's also urging youngsters to check out LAPS (Life After a Professional Sport), a service which aims to help current and former footballers take the next step in their career once their playing days end.
When asked what his advice would be to academy players, Tapp says: "Just seek as much help as possible. When I was in the academy, we used to have numerous workshops and there would be people coming in and talking [to us]. A guy I used to play with called Robbie Simpson, he's got a company called LAPS and that's brilliant.
"Things like that are brilliant for people who perhaps don't know where to turn to. There's always certain organisations and stuff that can help you along the way.
"When I went into MK Dons, it was the latter part of last season - so it really was crunch time for a few of those boys. Some of them might have got their decision [on a new contract] a month after seeing me and they're there in that position I was in going 'where do I turn now?' It's about going there and raising awareness and giving out the information that could really help these players that don't know where to turn."
Tapp is also willing to offer his services to LAPS. "Robbie reached out to me after he'd seen that I went to MK Dons and we were speaking. He said he would love to have me in for a few chats with LAPS. It's definitely something where I would like to go down and have more conversations with him and bring LAPS into my talks I'm having with the boys.
"I think it's one of those where I was in the academy and had people come in and talk about it, all you wanted to do is go and train. You didn't want to be sitting in a workshop for an hour, you were thinking 'when are we going to put the boots on and train'.
"It's about doing these little talks in the best way possible and being as relatable as possible where they can go 'do you know what, he's been through this and he's done this and he's not too much older than I am'. It's definitely a route I wanna go down and give that information about LAPS and everything. It's a brilliant organisation and what players coming out of the game early need."
On his plans for the future, Tapp adds: "I'd love to get into as many professional clubs as possible and speak to the youth team boys, give my experience and help where I can there.
"Whilst I'm doing that, I just try to get myself as fit and ready as I possibly can so when the day comes and I'm ready and think 'do you know what, the time is right to go back into it', I haven't got that bit of time where I need to get fit first. I want to get all of that done, so that once the decision comes I can be like 'right, I can go into a club now'."
Tapp will always be known as a Love Island winner, but his association with football will never fade either. It's unclear exactly what the future will hold for him, but one thing is for sure - it will involve the beautiful game.
