Stephen Odey explains how to cope with fame and fortune as a young player
Stephen Odey joined Danish top-division club Randers on loan from Genk on the transfer Deadline Day. The 23-year-old’s career has been on an upward trajectory since his move to Europe in 2017 and he says choosing the right people has helped him stay on track.
When asked by Omasports how he’s been able to manage his fortune and fame, Odey said: “The people around you. I choose the people I want to walk around with. If you’re not the kind of the person that’ll bring value to the table, I’m not going to stick around with you.”
Young footballers move to Europe to ply their trade and then begin to make a lot of money. However, they sometimes find it difficult to manage their income due to naivety. Odey reveals that managing your fortune as a player can be easy when you are surrounded by people with value.
“I want people that can add value to me. It’s very important to have the right people around you as a footballer.”
With a good pay comes a better standard of living. However, the young striker says to maintain that standard, you have to put in the work.
“If you want the good life, you have to be ready for the work. You have to work harder because everybody wants your position,” the former Zurich FC forward added.
Odey scored 6 goals in 28 league appearances when he was on loan at French Ligue 2 side Amiens last season. Now in Randers, the Nigerian could be in line to make his official debut against Copenhagen in the league next weekend.
