Sheffield Wednesday star Barry Bannan now looks set to take his first step into life after football once the season finishes.
Some news on the Owls captain has been shared by The Star reporter Joe Crann.
So, what will Bannan do in the summer once Wednesday have hopefully secured Championship survival? Let’s take a closer look…
Barry Bannan set to take steps towards life after Sheffield Wednesday
Well, it would actually appear as though the talismanic Wednesday star is hoping to remain in football when he places his boots on his peg for the last time.
Bannan has remained integral for the Owls this season – with Wednesday fighting bravely against relegation back to League One.
Now, according to Joe Crann from The Star, Bannan is set to embark on receiving his coaching badges once the current campaign finishes.
The 34-year-old will head over to Northern Ireland to put the wheels in motion towards a career in coaching.
He will complete his UEFA B and A License by the time next season starts, although it wouldn’t appear that he plans to stop playing just yet.
Bannan has been Wednesday for nearly nine years and right now, he’s on 387 appearances for the club that he’s served with distinction.
Could Bannan coach at Hillsborough one day?
Well, it has to be said that the notion in itself is a romantic one given how popular Bannan is in South Yorkshire.
The experienced midfielder has always given his all for the club and clearly, he’s a natural when it comes to football intelligence.
It was a crazy suggestion when Xisco Munoz left earlier this season that Bannan might have been placed in caretaker charge.
Bannan does look unlikely to play for another club during his career now and perhaps he actually sees himself coaching at Hillsborough in the future.
In our view, what this news does do is offer a stark reminder that Wednesday can’t rely on Bannan to pull the strings in midfield forever.
If Danny Rohl does remain at Wednesday for the foreseeable, he will have to start earmarking players who can eventually replace Bannan in the engine room.