Former LA Galaxy player Charlie Rugg on art, mental wellness and collaboration in 1 T-shirt

What guidance would you give a young footballer about mental wellness?

“For young footballers, just keep in touch with why you are carrying out it. Why are you investing so substantially in this profession? Why are you right here? And, once again, keep in touch with the components of you that are accurate to you, and seriously, it is all about joy. What ever brings you joy and happiness. If you overlook to play football for joy, then it will not function for you. That does not transform in retirement. That does not transform just after you cease playing. It is just element of life. And you can use a football profession as a platform to commence studying that. Mainly because you play football for the reason that you appreciate it. And that is a seriously crucial element of it that young players have to have to keep in mind. I was mentoring this kid, who, he was like, 1 of the 1st points he told me was, ‘I want to play professionally so I can assistance my family members.’ In my thoughts, I am like, it is all backwards. It will place stress on you. It will not get you exactly where you want to go. And, yes, some people today can do that, but it cannot be the driving force behind wanting to play soccer or be a expert soccer player. It is as well turbulent a profession and life to place so substantially weight on your self. Specifically that young 1. It all has to do with what you want to do with your life and how you want to encounter your life.”