Ex-C/Palace midfielder Cabaye reveals sporting director plans

Former Crystal Palace ace Yohan Cabaye says he’s studying to become a sporting director after hanging up the boots. Cabaye announced his retirement last week.

“I want to do courses, like coaching licenses,” he said in the Palace matchday programme. “There’s a school in France on how to be a sporting director that I’m interested in. I want to go back to school, now to learn and try to stay involved in the game.

“I’m excited to learn about how to develop a football club’s philosophy from the Academy to the youth teams up to the senior players. It’s something I want to learn and I’m really excited about

“I hope for the next two years to try and learn, to get my degree, and then hopefully work in a football club.”

Cabaye revealed he had been advised to get back into football as quickly as possible as he mulled over what to do after retirement.

“I spoke with a couple of teammates [who have retired],” he said, “because I like to know about all their experiences.

“Every experience is different and mine will be different from them – it’s a personal decision, because no one can say to you ‘now you have to stop’ or ‘now keep playing’. The decisions come from me and that’s the main thing.

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“[But] the good advice for me was just: ‘OK, it’s your decision. Don’t go far away from football. Try to stay inside, try to be involved as you can because when you move away from football for a certain amount of time, it’s hard to get back in there.'”