Tijjani Reijnders credits a pivotal comment—”If you keep training like this, even I won’t be able to fix you”—as the turning point in his life. Today, the Dutch midfielder is recognized as a valuable asset in European football and plays for Manchester City. However, his professional journey contrasted sharply with the success of peers like Phil Foden and Erling Haaland just a few years prior.
In a recent interview, Reijnders detailed a period when his life was far removed from professional athleticism. He recounted that at the age of 19, while other talents were establishing themselves on the international football stage, he was working at a supermarket. Reijnders explained that his routine involved cycling to the store after school, where he spent several hours stocking shelves and scanning products.
He noted that this experience was not the path he had envisioned for himself. He attributed the necessary shift in focus and dedication to the criticism received from his parents, which he stated served as a catalyst for change. The realization of the disparity between his current career and his past employment fueled a renewed commitment to his athletic pursuits.
This period of contrast, between the mundane reality of retail work and the high standards of elite football, appears to have been instrumental in shaping the dedication that characterizes his performance today.
Topics: #football #his #tijjani
What an inspiring story of dedication, going from a supermarket job to playing at this level.
What specific areas of his training or performance did coaches advise him to improve?