If you haven’t heard of Silvan Wallner before, you’ve left it too late.
The Austrian Bundesliga regular with FC Blau-Weiss Linz has announced a shock decision to retire from football aged just 22.
The reason? To follow Jesus Christ.
Defender Wallner looked set for a big career in football having shone for FC Zürich in the Swiss Super League, earning him a call-up to Switzerland’s U21s with the first team surely in his sights.
However, Wallner has said goodbye to football, with Linz announcing his retirement in a surprise statement.
They wrote: “Silvan Wallner has informed FC Blau-Weiß Linz that, for personal reasons, he no longer feels able to continue his active professional career as a footballer and would like to end it.
“For this reason, both sides have agreed to terminate his contract early. The terms of the termination have been kept confidential.
“The Swiss joined Linz from FC Zurich in September 2024 and has so far made five appearances for the Blue-Whites.”
Explaining his decision, Wallner added: “First of all, I would like to thank those responsible, the staff and the entire Blau-Weiß Linz team.
“I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who has accompanied and supported me in my sporting career so far.
“I am a devout Christian and I read the Bible. I make my own decisions in life. I am also not a member of a church yet. I want to follow Jesus Christ and the biblical day of rest has become important to me.
“For me as a professional, this means that from now on I do not want to play football for a living on Saturdays. It is my personal conviction that I have come to in the last few days.”
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