While retirement may seem like a distant dream for most people in their 20s or 30s, the reality of young retirement due to injury is an all-too-familiar story for Myles Sohna.
After progressing through the ranks within Aston Villa’s academy from the age of nine, the 22-year-old stated how much of an achievement it was, saying:
“I was a young kid when I joined and worked with some of the best coaches and players.
“To have spent 12 years at Aston Villa, one of the most highly regarded academies in England and even the world in terms of producing young talent and the club’s history, was a great honour for me.” Sohna said.
The youngster continued by crediting the club for helping him develop and mature during his time there.
“I have to give Villa huge credit for shaping me into the footballer I became, as well as a better person.
“They provided me resources and created an environment which allowed me to thrive and develop, helping me become the best footballer and person I could be,” Sohna smiled.
“The person aspect is down to the morals and principles that they demand from players, and I started to live by those.”
Throughout his time at Villa, Sohna had the pleasure of playing with and against some of the great emerging talents in football.
“I played with so many top players, such as Jacob Ramsey, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Jaden Philogene who are all now in the Premier League.
“In terms of against, I’d have to say Cole Palmer or Yunus Musah.”
The Young Lions take on Carlisle in the #PapaJohnsTrophy tonight.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 17, 2020
Ahead of kick-off, get to know defender Myles Sohna. 💫 pic.twitter.com/EtkfCOeQfu
With the last few seasons being overshadowed by injuries and surgery, the 22-year-old learnt a lot from those tough experiences.
“What I’ve learned about myself was how strong and resilient I am. If it wasn’t for those injuries, I may not have the mental fortitude and resilience capabilities that I have now.
“Those experiences have allowed me to develop a mindset in which, whatever happens, I can always sort of get back up and keep going,“ he explained.
“That’s a crucial mindset to have.”
However, last week Sohna announced his retirement from football at just 22 years old, due to the injuries that would not only prevent him from playing the game he loves but also his quality of life.
“It was the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make. It’s not something that sort of happened overnight, I’d been thinking about it for months.
“When I officially announced it, it felt quite surreal. It didn’t feel real that I was announcing my retirement. Because, as you can imagine, at 22 years old, five years ago, I would have never pictured myself in this position,” Sohna expressed.
After his recent announcement of retiring from football at 22 years old on social media last week, Myles Sohna spoke about how tough the decision was for him 💔
— Park Life Sport (@ParkLife_Sport) November 25, 2024
Article to follow soon…#ParkLifeSport pic.twitter.com/AyLSr9HJ86
“I believe everything happens for a reason and this was God’s plan for me. I want to show my appreciation to everyone who sent me messages of support and comfort, it means a lot.
“I’ve made memories that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”
