I faced England's three newest stars including Roy Keane's future son-in-law but quit at 22 to become a churchgoer
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England’s newest star has been detailing the advice given to him by Roy Keane – but one of his former rivals didn’t need any career tips.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who is engaged to Keane’s daughter Leah, is on a very different pathway to one player he faced in his youth.
The Southampton defender received his first senior England call-up to reunite with interim manager Lee Carsley.
The 22-year-old, who captained the Under-21s to Euros glory last year, is also familiar with several of his new Three Lions teammates.
Harwood-Bellis was part of the England U17s side, overseen by now-Leicester manager Steve Cooper, alongside fellow Premier League stars Morgan Rogers, Tino Livramento, Noni Madueke, and Burnley‘s James Trafford.
The quintet, who are all included in Carsley’s current squad, were involved in a 5-2 victory over Switzerland in March 2019.
The five England stars, of which only Madueke has played at senior international level so far, may be surprised to find out one of the Swiss players from that day retired last weekend.
Not due to injury. Silvan Wallner has quit football aged just 22 because it conflicts with him going to church every Saturday.
The defender, who helped hometown club FC Zurich win the Swiss league title two years ago, announced his retirement on Sunday.
Wallner only signed a two-year contract with Austrian Bundesliga side Blau-Weiss Linz in September and has made five appearances.
However, his club confirmed his retirement hours after a famous 2-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg.
Salzburg, managed by former Jurgen Klopp assistant Pep Lijnders, also boasted Liverpool loanee Stefan Bajcetic in their ranks – whose former Reds teammate Harvey Elliott started England’s win over Switzerland that Wallner was an unused substitute for.
Wallner has confirmed that he has ended his deal with Blau-Weiss Linz by mutual consent after putting his faith above elite football.
The former footballer is a believer in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which observes Saturday, not Sunday, as the day of rest.
He told the club’s website: “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.”
