Josh Magennis decided to keep dreaming and take on the challenges ahead

Josh Magennis may be at a crossroads in his career, but the forward is determined to keep pushing forward. The 33-year-old is looking for a new club following his release by Wigan at the end of last season.

Magennis admitted he “saw it coming” despite captaining the club as Shaun Maloney’s side moved in a different direction. But as he has done throughout his career, the Bangor native embraces the challenge ahead.

“I didn’t think about retiring,” he said. “I just thought when is football going to be ready for me to move on or am I going to move on from it?

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“I had an honest conversation with my wife and some of my close friends and I’m not one of those guys because I’d rather stay too long than leave too soon. I made a conscious decision that I would invest in my body, invest in myself and play as much as I could.

“I’m not one to be arrogant to think I should be playing at a certain standard of football. That will either come with age, lack of form or just opportunity and I’m willing to go anywhere. I’m going to stay in football as much as I can and see where we end up.”

With 100 goals to his name from 500 appearances to date, Magennis has been pleased with his side so far. He has a strong support network around him with family, friends and faith, which he credits with helping him along the way.

“It wasn’t a bad career to start with,” he said. “It was crazy and I enjoyed every moment of it. Gareth McAuley told me there is no real middle ground in football as you are either high as a kite or lower than the belly of a snake.

“I’ve fully embraced it and as much as I’ve had a good career it would be ridiculous and disrespectful to say I’m the only one who contributed to it. Obviously I go to church, I say my prayers and I have a huge faith, but I had fantastic people around me who helped me at every club until I became a senior pro.

“My wife and kids were a big part of it … obviously my relationships with Stuart Dallas and Steven Davis. If I ever had a problem in football, I always had someone to help me and, most importantly, if I went somewhere, I had someone to talk to.

“I loved it because it was just amazing. Football was my life and I was lucky. I always dreamed of playing football and some people’s dreams last longer than others and some people’s dreams are bigger than others. that’s it while I’m dreaming, I’m not yet ready to wake up.”

At 33, Magennis now has another new experience as he heads into the summer break without a club. He admitted it’s stressful, but the leader also embraces it because there’s the opportunity for a new challenge.

“It’s new to me as far as free agency,” he said. “It’s stressful because it’s the unknown. Footballers are usually and sometimes maniacally selfish creatures… so we like to know when we do it, how we do it and go for it.

“The uncertainty of not knowing where you’re going back is daunting, but you have to come to terms with the reality that you’re doing something you love and you’re going to be playing for another team.

“God willing, I’m not out of football and I can find another club… we can just deal with it and I’ve got a great support network at home with my family. I embrace it and “I’m able to go anywhere for the first time in my career, so it works both ways.”

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