Simply put, a ‘streets won’t forget’ player has an outstanding period of football (usually a season) that the mainstream media forget but football fans don’t. Distinctive talents or traits that aren’t often seen means this player catches the eye. They are remembered by fans due to the entertainment they provide, knowing the fact watching them was going to bring something special. Their season is so good it is difficult for them to repeat it. Examples are Dimitri Payet at West Ham, Michu at Swansea and Adel Taarabt at QPR. All players had one exceptional season in which they were unstoppable, bringing them a host of individual awards. Becoming a ‘streets won’t forget’ player means you go down in history for your season, delighting fans who pay their hard earned money to watch. They get recognition for their hard work and show everyone what they are capable of.
To be a ‘streets won’t forget’ player, you have to have a season in which you play ‘out of your skin’. You must be in the public eye to the extent that your performances get noticed. Play at a high enough level that it is respected, and most importantly, it has to be entertaining enough for fans to remember it. This doesn’t happen overnight, it comes from having a build up of seasons in which your performances progressively get better and better until you peak.
We know it takes a build up of seasons then, so what work do you need to put in to make it happen? To master anything, 12+ years of work are required. Many of you may be well underway, and some of you may be just starting. To become a ‘streets won’t forget’ player worthy of fans’ approval, you must build a unique skill set. This happens with commitment to the cause through focused work. You need specific knowledge, and to learn what is required to level up your game. The ‘Becoming ‘Streets Won’t Forget’’ blog shows you this and teaches things you do not know. The number one thing for any footballer is playing. Professionals you see on TV spend hours upon hours each day playing with a ball at their feet. Reach your potential and be prepared to do what others are afraid to, and you can stand out. Have perfect preparation for each season to allow for continued improvement so each could be your ‘streets won’t forget’ one. It is then about creating an identity to build upon, like Michu’s celebration, Payet’s look or Taarabt’s playstyle.
The important part is setting yourself up so your season gets noticed. If you are consistently doing focused training, and your performances are getting better, then you will become a player people expect to do well. Play at a high enough level in which there is media coverage and your games are shown live. Then you market yourself in a way that makes you eye-catching so that people can’t help but notice. You could be playing in a team in the fourth division of your country, but score a wonder goal in the cup against a team in the top division. It is about making people pay attention by putting yourself out in the public eye.
This is not for the faint hearted however. To undergo this a player must be committed to following a football career. It is for those that believe they have the capability to do the exceptional. They must have access to the knowledge, time and training required. Luckily, all this can be learnt through focused work and intent. A footballer must train each day to reach the heights of their talents. We are all unique as people, and as footballers too. Magnify this uniqueness and leverage it in a way in which your capabilities are shown off . Think, why not me?
Becoming a ‘streets won’t forget’, you are shoved into the public eye but rewarded for your hard work. The compound effect means the seasons you have running up to it will be the catalyst for it. Many ‘streets won’t forget’ players use their spectacular season to make a dream move to a bigger side, and although they rarely perform as well as they did before, they still get the opportunity. For the ones that manage to find a higher gear after, it leads to an amazing career. ‘Streets won’t forget’ ballers have the most fun on the pitch as they are doing what feels natural to them, rather than forcing themselves into a system.
Not only does it benefit you on the pitch, but also off it. You have a purpose and a goal in your football career, and a good stopping point. Many footballers retire and then come back because they never had a plan to stop and therefore can’t. This sounds all well and good but your body needs to stop at some point. It also leads to opportunities after as people want to hear your story and learn from you. Fundamentally, it instils good characteristics in you such as discipline, perseverance and resilience, which are all important in life.
There are challenges to becoming ‘streets won’t forget’. As mentioned, it takes years of work for one season of recognition. You have to find a club that trusts in you, to give you the platform to perform. There is also lots of competition, as with anything worth having, with other players who have pressures to do well. For many ‘streets won’t forget’ ballers, their career tails off after, even if they do get a big move, as they have put all their energy in the build up to that one season. However, those who have a strong enough why can bear almost any how. Anyone who desires it enough can overcome these challenges and, for many, it does not count as work if you enjoy it. A club will also trust in you if you produce regularly for them, as it benefits them as much as you. In regards to competition, it pushes you further if you have the right attitude towards it. Overcoming these challenges gives you a great foundation to go and do more.
Many people will be thinking, why all this for one season? The fact of the matter is it is a season most players dream of. It is putting all your energy into playing at your highest potential for a period of time. Many players fall off after this, as they cannot maintain the heights they reach. It is more achievable than trying to be a player in the top tier of a country for 10 years, and not reaching your potential because you are trying to survive where you are rather than risk thriving.
How do you retire after such a career then? What are the opportunities? Many doors can open for you if you do achieve this. If you successfully create a brand, you can do anything from writing a book, filming a documentary or starting a business. People want to associate with those that have achieved notoriety, and you can use your name and experience to your advantage. If you manage to secure a bigger move after, you may have the money to invest in any passion you choose to pursue. The world is ready for you to take over, so don’t make it wait any longer.
The man who says he can and the man who says he can’t are both usually right.
