Sam McQueen after Southampton retirement: It can be scary | OneFootball

Sam McQueen admits he's struggling to handle life after retiring at Southampton.

The 27-year-old Saints academy graduate was forced to retire from playing around last Christmas, before becoming a Saints Foundation ambassador.

After injury had taken away what McQueen knew and loved, he admits struggling to find his feet in the world before making a return in a coaching role at Staplewood Campus.

He admitted: “I had some really good conversations with Matt Crocker and other staff at the club when it came to finishing football at Christmas.

“I had six months off to spend with my family, and I didn't come to a decision with what I wanted to do with my life. Football is all I know and it's all I've ever known."

McQueen, who began working with under-18s coach Mikey Harris in July added: “The club was open to me coming back and it just made sense.

“The reality of the outside world without football is quite scary, so the fact the club has offered me a first step back into the working life and not being a player anymore is tough at the moment but I know in the future I'll be eternally grateful.

“It's been interesting, really good and I'm learning a lot. Sometimes I feel a bit out of my depth, sometimes I have no idea what I'm doing on days and it's just getting used to a worklife rather than coming in with a schedule given to you to perform on the pitch.

“But working with the guys they have been so patient, and I don't think they realise how much it means to me at the moment."