Professional soccer is extremely demanding, and players need to be available for most of the year to train and play for their teams. So, it begs the question – when do soccer players go on vacation?
Here, we reveal when soccer players typically spend time away from their clubs and explain how it can be difficult for them to get some time away from the limelight.
So, when do soccer players go on vacation?
Soccer players go on vacation during the off-season. In most major European leagues, the off-season runs from the end of May until the end of June, but many players have commitments to their international teams, further restricting their vacation options.
Players also have to consider their pre-season commitments, which is a period of intense physical training that teams go through before the season gets underway. Again, this shortens their vacation period and often provides soccer players with a relatively small gap to take some time away with their families.
Let’s take a closer look at what we know about when soccer players go on vacation and how it’s different from vacation time in other fields.
What do soccer players do during the off-season?
When a soccer season ends, most soccer players are afforded time off by their clubs. This means that they don’t need to report to the training ground and aren’t required to turn up to the stadium or any other club facilities during this time.
Let’s take the EPL as an example. The 2021-22 season ended on May 22nd, 2022. The new season kicked off on August 5th, 2022, which is actually earlier than normal due to the winter World Cup being held in Qatar later this year.
As a result, professional soccer players in the EPL had a period between May 22nd and August 5th, during which they could technically go on vacation. But of course, every EPL club has a rigorous pre-season campaign that involves training and matches, which players are contractually obliged to be a part of.
Pre-season usually starts 4-6 weeks before the first game week, meaning that realistically, most players had the majority of June off, as many were back at their clubs by the start of July.
Thanks to these dates, we can deduce that most EPL soccer players took their vacation sometime in June this year, but this can change from season to season and depends on their other on-the-field commitments during the off-season.
What happens when there’s an international tournament during the summer?
If you ask any professional soccer player what they desire the most, they’re likely to tell you that winning an international tournament with their national team is pretty high on their list.
Most international soccer tournaments, such as the World Cup and the European Championships, take place in June and July, which is at the end of the season for most major European soccer leagues.
So, instead of packing their suitcases and heading to the beach, soccer players often have to leave their clubs to join up with their national teams, which further limits their opportunities to take a vacation.
What tends to happen is that in a tournament summer, the player’s club will allow international players to have an extended period of time off, returning to pre-season training later than other players.
After all, everyone needs a vacation, and it’s unrealistic to expect players to play through the entire summer without a short break to recharge their batteries!
Can soccer players go on vacation during the season?
When you think about it, the job of a professional athlete is unique in many respects, and vacation time is no different. Contractually, professional players are not permitted to take a vacation during the season, meaning they have to be available to their clubs for the vast majority of the year.
This is in stark contrast to most other jobs, where employees can take vacations at practically any time of the year. Although soccer players are really well paid for their work, the fact that they can’t just take a vacation whenever it suits them can heighten the stress of their jobs, particularly when the pressure is on.
If a coach thinks that a player is struggling, they might offer them time away from the club for a short period of time during the season, but it’s unlikely that a player would use this opportunity to head to the beach!
Other than consented leaves of absence, players are required to be available to their clubs throughout the entirety of the season and must only take their vacations during the off-season.
Do soccer players have to train during their vacations?
A soccer player’s vacation is like anybody else’s, and they’re permitted to do as they please. It’s a great chance for them to spend some time away from the limelight while enjoying quality time with their families.
That being said, conditioning is crucial for soccer players, and many professional athletes train during their vacations. This might be early morning runs on the beach or weight training alongside their vacation activities, but you will find that many pro soccer players go the extra mile when they’re not at work.
While pre-season is an extremely grueling time for soccer players and requires them to push extremely hard to be ready for the demands of the season, lots of professionals use their vacation time to prepare their bodies for these demands and keep themselves in good shape.
So, although a soccer player might take it upon themselves to train during their vacations, they aren’t necessarily contractually obliged to do so.
How much vacation time do soccer players have every year?
As mentioned, most soccer players are given around one month off each season, provided that they don’t have any international commitments. This is referred to as the off-season, and soccer players can spend time with their families.
In some European Leagues, there is also a winter break, which usually lasts for two weeks and is typically in January. Some clubs permit their players a short break during this time, while others arrange warm-weather training camps in places like Dubai.
Another thing to be mindful of is that soccer players will get a couple of days off each week to spend with their families, although the days they’re given off will depend on the team’s schedule.
Recap: When do soccer players go on vacation?
In most instances, soccer players go on vacation during the off-season, which is usually in June in Europe. However, when there is an international tournament, many players have restricted vacation times as they’re called up to represent their national teams.
Soccer players work really hard throughout the season and deserve a vacation, just like everyone else. But due to the demands of the modern game and the scheduling of their leagues, they often have little choice in terms of when they can take time away with their families.