Harry Kane has led England as captain in World Cups and European Championships, clinched league titles with Bayern Munich, and received numerous accolades. Although he has achieved a lot in soccer, the renowned striker is contemplating a distinctive end to his professional career.
During a press conference on Wednesday while on international duty, Kane revealed that he might play in Major League Soccer (MLS) and possibly serve as a placekicker for an NFL team.
“That is something I will consider more seriously,” Kane stated to The Athletic. “It all depends on how my career develops in the next five to six years, my motivations, and what I aim to do. The NFL seems more realistic than golf, to put it that way.”
The notion of Kane transitioning to an NFL kicking role is not new. In 2019, he mentioned to ESPN’s Bruce Schoenfeld that he would like to explore that opportunity in “10 or 12 years.”
Having turned 33 in July, Kane is eager to extend his playing career at the highest level. Last season, he scored 61 goals across all competitions for Bayern Munich, contributing to the team’s second consecutive Bundesliga title, along with the German Cup and Supercup.
While still performing at an elite level, Kane envisions a future in MLS, where he could potentially merge both sports like Deion Sanders, who was a two-sport star. “Maybe if I find myself in MLS in the future, it might work out as a possibility with the seasons aligning,” he mentioned. “But it’s always in the back of my mind—I want to keep playing for as long as I can.”
Brandon Aubrey, the kicker for the Dallas Cowboys, is a notable example of a player who transitioned from soccer. Aubrey played college soccer at Notre Dame and was drafted by Toronto FC in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. After a hiatus from soccer beginning in 2018, he honed his placekicking skills, leading to a drafting by the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL in 2022 and signing with the Cowboys a year later.
Kane pointed out that placekicking shares a similar technique and pressure with taking a penalty kick in soccer. “If I pursue that, I would feel more attuned to that training than any other sport,” he said. “It looks easy on TV, but that’s not always the reality. If I choose to do it, I’d dedicate six months to a year to practice.”
Kane, who mentioned he is “fairly close” to finalizing a new contract with Bayern Munich, hasn’t fully devised his career’s final chapter just yet, but he is already considering his future.
“I think it’s common for someone my age, 33, to start pondering retirement or what comes next, but I want to maximize these last two, five, or even ten years. I will keep pushing forward.”
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer enthusiasts as it highlights the potential crossover between sports, showing that elite athletes can pursue diverse interests even after reaching the pinnacle of their primary careers. Kane’s ambition to explore MLS and the NFL could inspire a new wave of players to think beyond traditional pathways, enriching both sports in the process.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
