19/06/2026
"I ask myself how I managed to spend that sort of money all the time."
That is former Aston Villa and England midfielder Lee Hendrie, who earned £1.6 million a year before losing it all.
I grew up in a football-mad family, in a football-mad town.
My playing career ended before it began. Back then nobody talked about mental health, let alone financial health.
But thanks to the Malta Football Players Association, times have changed.
Last week, I delivered my Money Management Masterclass to their players, who are now being supported on the pitch and off it.
3 out of 5 Premier League players go bankrupt within 5 years of retiring, despite earning an average of €5 million during their careers.
Their career is short. Yet, the decisions they make throughout it last a lifetime.
P.S. If even elite athletes need guidance to protect what they have earned, what chance do the rest of us have without it?
