Alexander Isdale once lived every young boy’s dream of becoming a professional footballer, but he made a sensational decision to end his career at the age of 23 and pursue a job at a scrapyard. Surprisingly, he found true happiness in his new path.
Instead of participating in pre-season training and preparing for the upcoming season in the Scottish Championship, Isdale now spends his days collecting old metal scraps. He opted to obtain a license to drive a lorry, enabling him to transport the collected materials to the waste depots of the company where he works.
Alexander Isdale began his football journey as a youth player at Greenock Morton in Scotland. Despite attracting interest from several Premier League clubs who wanted to sign him for their academies when he was only 17, he chose to continue playing in Scotland. He served as a center-forward for his hometown club, Greenock, and later also had a stint at Morton, where he played in 12 Championship matches but failed to score any goals.
Regarding his career shift, Isdale expressed immense contentment, stating, “I am much happier now. I genuinely enjoy every day. Football is well-paid, and the lifestyle is good. You train in the morning, have a break in the afternoon to do whatever you want, and recover.”
Having spent almost a decade working full-time in football, Isdale felt that, by the age of 23, he had achieved what he could in the sport. He contemplated a fresh start and considered going into the scrap business, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle.
Transitioning from the world of a Championship club to the physical demands of a scrapyard was undoubtedly challenging, but Isdale stands by his decision, saying, “It’s tough going from a Championship club to doing a hard day’s work at the scrapyard, but it was my decision, and I don’t regret it.”
Now retired from professional football, Alexander Isdale has found fulfillment in his new career and embraced the path less traveled with no regrets.
