This archive report was first published on 17 December 2019.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has already begun planning for life after football, a career that has seen him become one of the most creative and tactical players in the world.
At just 28 years old, De Bruyne has been tipped as a future manager, and his passion for football management is evident in his decision to start studying for his coaching badges with the Belgian Federation.
According to Belgian media outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, De Bruyne has set himself up for a transition into football management once his playing career comes to an end.
"I am not yet playing with the idea of becoming a trainer. I'm still too young for that. But if I want to stay in football later, this is the minimum," De Bruyne was quoted by 90min.com.
De Bruyne's decision to pursue coaching badges is not surprising, given his former teammate Vincent Kompany's successful transition into management. Kompany, who left Manchester City in 2018 to become a player-coach at Anderlecht, has been a source of inspiration for De Bruyne.
