West Ham United forward Michail Antonio shares future admission amid talks with Burnley boss Vincent Kompany
West Ham forward Michail Antonio has revealed he is planning to do his coaching badges after speaking with Burnley manager Vincent Kompany about his retirement plans.
Speaking on The Footballer’s Football Podcast on Thursday (12 October), the Jamaican international admitted he doesn’t want to be a coach, but that the Belgian persuaded him to do his badges after his transformation from playing to management
The 33-year-old added that he has already started doing some things and that he wants to go into a presenting role, where he can “feel free, have a bit of banter and get paid for it”.
“I was at Vincent Kompany’s house because my son with his kids, and he asked me what my plans were when I retire,” said Antonio. “I said: ‘Honestly, I don’t really know. I don’t really want to be a coach – I feel like it’s a lot of hard work’.
“But he said to me there was no harm in you doing your badges. I do enjoy working with younger kids. Since I’ve been at West Ham, all the young boys coming through as wingers, I’ve always pulled them to one side and spoken to them.
“I’ve already started doing certain things, but to actually be a coach is not really for me. I want to go into a presenting role – not even in punditry, but more in entertainment. I want to be able to feel free, have a bit of banter and get paid for it.
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“That’s what I’m thinking about doing and that’s why I love the podcast, because you get to come on here, have a bit of banter and talk about football – but it’s all fun.
“But I am going to do my badges now because of speaking to him [Kompany] about the transformation of player to coach, which he’s done. How they [Burnley] won the Championship last year was crazy.”
Suits him
It makes sense for Antonio to be thinking about life beyond his playing career now because he is 33 and, with his style of play, he may not be able to go on for too many more years at the top level.
He has dipped into doing some media work already and has proven to be very popular on his podcast with Newcastle United forward Callum Wilson.
It doesn’t feel as though coaching would be the right path for Antonio with his character, but presenting would certainly suit him so that could be a good avenue for him to go down.
It is still worth him doing his coaching badges while he has the chance, though, as an interesting opportunity could potentially open up for him in the future.
But for now, he can focus on helping the Hammers continue to improve as he is still an important player under David Moyes and he isn’t past his best just yet.
In other West Ham news, Ferdinand has labelled a decision regarding a Hammers star as “crazy”.
