Would you quit Man City for Oxford University?

[oxford blue]

Han Willhoft-King did. Interesting article here:

The teenager who quit Manchester City for Oxford University: ‘I felt I could do more’ | Football | The Guardian

A very talented teenager who could probably have done well as a pro footballer. He will be a good addition to university team next Feb seeking to avenge the drubbing by Cambridge this year!

[Leicesterpool]

At a young age as a footballer three ways your career go, one you could become a successful premier league football earning millions and millions, two you could have modest career playing in the efl for the likes of Preston, Barnsley, Peterborough etc. or three pans out to being released and end up playing part time non league football having to get a day job alongside it all. For this lad I think it's a win, win goes to Uni and could later get great job making difference to people's and then perhaps play a bit of part time football. Totally admire what this lads done. 

[Richard]

I believe Patrick Bamford was in a similar situation but chose Chelsea academy over Harvard. 

 

If he wanted to go back and study in his 30s I'm sure Oxford would welcome him 

[fox_up_north]

Thousands of kids across academies all over the UK but only a handful make it. Lad's played the numbers and probably the right choice. I work with ex pros and those who didn't quite make it. All sorts can go wrong and odds are stacked against you. 

[Arkie Bennett]

Was talking about this with my mate, whose son had hopes of making the England Olympic swimming team a few years ago, but he decided he was always going to just miss out, so he concentrated on his studies instead. He'll qualify as a medical doctor soon, and he enjoys playing rugby for fun. He said when he was younger he'd turn up for swimming events and if Peaty was there he knew first place was out of the question. Definitely made the right choice.

[Super_horns]

Probably knew he wasn’t good enough to make it maybe ?

[Lambert09]

On 17/11/2025 at 13:17, Leicesterpool said:

At a young age as a footballer three ways your career go, one you could become a successful premier league football earning millions and millions, two you could have modest career playing in the efl for the likes of Preston, Barnsley, Peterborough etc. or three pans out to being released and end up playing part time non league football having to get a day job alongside it all. For this lad I think it's a win, win goes to Uni and could later get great job making difference to people's and then perhaps play a bit of part time football. Totally admire what this lads done. 

I feel like unless you really love academia, any football career is the better choice. 
 

If you can survive in life but get the joys of playing professional football that’s just the best isn’t it. But it’s the ones that actually fail completely that are the issue. I knew a lad who did nothing because he was certain he would be a pro. Even had an offer to join us when he was still at school, but he eventually fell out of the game entirely with nothing to fall back on.  I don’t know what he’s up to now but I’d bet anything his life is shit. 
 

the guy was an absolute idiot and I’ve never seen someone waste so much talent. Pretty sure he was banned from driving because he got pissed, took his dad’s car out and crashed into a lamp post. He was 15  

Edited 21 November 2025 by Lambert09

[Lambert09]