Abbie McManus opens up on life after Football
Abbie McManus has spoken about her life after football, following her retirement in 2023 due to a serious leg injury.
The former Manchester United Women defender has since taken a different path, training as a firefighter.
She said:
“I miss football massively, don’t get me wrong, but everything I miss about it – the routine, the training, being around people as part of a team, the banter… there’s all of that in the fire service.”
She explained that the transition has felt natural:
“There are so many parallels between what football and this gives me… instead of representing our football club it’s all about keeping the community safe.”
McManus revealed she had always considered a career outside football, but the injury forced the decision.
Being told her career was over, she admitted, “was a bitter pill to swallow,” but she chose to move forward.
“I decided to visit some local fire stations. I researched, I asked some questions, I applied, and I got in.”
Despite stepping away from professional football, she hasn’t completely left the game behind. She still plays occasionally and keeps up with matches.
Looking back, she also reflected on her time at the club:
“we were a proper family. We all dug in, and we had such togetherness to help each other.”
