Gavin Rae mapping out career after football

Sports Careers, formed by Human Resources expert David Chalmers last year, has already assisted former Rangers captain Weir following his retirement as a player to his recent appointment as Sheffield United manager.

Midfielder Rae, who has just agreed to extend his playing career for another season with Dundee, will join Weir in lending his football knowledge to the company.

“I’m coming towards the end of my career, so I’m getting involved in something else I feel passionate about,” said Rae. “I’ve got my coaching badges and will look to do that as well, but this is something I hope will be helpful to other people within sport. It’s about helping get them into jobs which can further their careers as well.

“I’ve always been looking to do something outwith football. You have to find something which is of interest to you. This is something which can help apprentices who don’t get kept on at clubs and get them into commercial jobs.

“Or it can help players like myself, at the end of their careers, into coaching jobs. We also help people become physiotherapists, fitness coaches, nutritionists. With the contacts we have got in the game, hopefully we can help them.

“When I was a young player, I didn’t really think about anything else. You just think your whole career will be in football and I’ve been lucky enough for that to be the case. But it’s only a small percentage who can do that, so it’s important to have something else in mind. That’s what we are trying to do with this.”

Now 35, Rae turned down the opportunity to move to Australia this year in order to have a third playing spell at Dens Park but he does intend to head down under eventually.

“My wife is Australian and we will end up living there,” he added. “With this business, hopefully I can branch it out for coaches and others trying to get out to Australia, or have people coming in the opposite way.”