The aim of this study was to consider the retirement experiences of British male professional association footballers by utilising Foucault`s analysis of discipline discussed in Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Specifically, we drew upon Foucault to consider how, through the various techniques and instruments of discipline, the professional football context produces `docile footballing bodies` and how this might influence a player`s experiences in retirement. We gathered our empirical material using a Foucauldian-informed interview framework with 25 former professional male football players between the ages of 21 and 34. Our analysis suggested that retirement from football was both a challenge and a relief for our participants, and that their extended period of time within football`s strong disciplinary apparatus significantly influenced how they experienced their retirement.
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