Marnick Vermijl was given his debut for Manchester United in 2012 by Sir Alex Ferguson. Vermijl would make just one other appearance for United, and now has a different career. Vermijl also featured for Preston North End, Scunthorpe United and Sheffield Wednesday before his career change.
A footballer's career is often a short one. A study in 2022 showed that the average duration of a career at the top is just 11 years. While some are able to stretch that out even longer and continue playing well past their sell-by date, others fall short of that mark, whether it be down to opportunities, injuries, or simply not being good enough.
One would imagine that if you were able to reach the senior level for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, such as Manchester United , you're likely going to be able to forge some kind of journey for yourself in the professional game. Especially if your debut is handed to you by one of the greatest managers the sport has ever seen , Sir Alex Ferguson . That tale is true to the life of former Belgium under-21 international Marnick Vermijl.
The now 32-year-old was handed his United debut by the iconic Scot back in 2012 in a League Cup victory over Newcastle. He may have hoped that this would be the start of a prosperous voyage at the top of the game. However, just over a decade later, things look very different for the full-back as he finds himself playing in the third tier of his homeland while also holding down an important second job.
The former Mac.