From First Team Regular to Well Paid Bench Warmer

[Glassman]

Just seen the headline that Tootenherm Spot Hurs have resigned free agent Michel Vorm to cover for the injured Hugo Lloris.

Vorm went from the No.1 keeper at Swansea to someone who rarely stepped out of Lloris's shadow at WHL.

I'm struggling to understand the mindset of a player who has spent his younger years trying to achieve some form of greatness in his sport, and yet appears happy to watch games (and his career pass him by) from the bench. Is it the money? Is it the realisation that there's only a couple of seasons left at this level and that he's never going to be any better; never going to be selected for his country?

Content?

Paid well?

Never really was that ambitious?

Even David Ospina went looking for first team football.

I can't imagine Vorm's wages at Swansea would have been much less than £20-30k a week so Spurs would have offered him what, £40-50k? Is that enough to give up on your passion (if that's what it is?)?

[RammyMP]

Maybe he doesn’t like living in Wales?

[towser44]

He's still involved and playing football most days of the week in training though and being paid handsomely for it, he's just not playing a competitive game of 90 minutes every week in front a stadium full of people.

[Sarkmeister]

There have been a few examples of players who seem to accept just not playing very often (or playing for the reserves), and it's normally goalkeepers.

Wasn't Steve Harper the reserve keeper at Newcastle for 20 yrs? Surely at some point you'd think about moving on?

[ChocolateFrog]

Literally financially secure for the remaining 2/3rds of their lives. I can see the perks.

Less likely to get injured, might extend their career due to less wear and tear on the body. Less chance to embarrass yourself in front of 60000 people, there are a few upsides.

[Jag_NE]

People in all walks often take a low risk / low gain path, despite their natural talents suggesting they could go on to achieve greater things. Many people find a level they are content with and have no interest to take things further, arguably they are the richest people of all.