Como Women’s captain retires, spotlighting uncertain future for female footballers

At 37, most soccer players know the end is near. For FC Como Women captain Alia Guagni, the decision to retire wasn’t just about age — it was about life beyond the game and her long-delayed dream of becoming a mother.

One of the most respected names in Italian women’s soccer, Guagni is hanging up her boots. But on Sunday, she did more than just say goodbye — she used the moment to spotlight a dilemma many female athletes face: What happens after the game?

“My future is still uncertain. I hope to stay in football, but nothing is guaranteed,” Guagni told The Athletic. Como’s 3-1 win felt almost symbolic, a quiet nod to her No. 3 jersey.

“After a career on the pitch, we (female) footballers are forced to stop and face a void. We don’t have clear pathways into professional life, and we can’t stop working.”

So she decided to leave the pitch with a message that hit just as hard. In collaboration with her club and the creative agency LePub, Guagni debuted a unique retirement jersey before her last game, printed with her professional résumé — a statement on the uncertainty players confront when their careers end. The message is clear: Many players, like Guagni, need a job after the final whistle blows.

“It is hard to retire for every player, but unlike Serie A…