Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has revealed that he came close to quitting football entirely after struggling to secure a professional contract during his teenage years.
The Nigerian international endured a challenging early career, facing rejection from several London-based academies, including Leyton Orient, Crystal Palace, and Charlton Athletic. Despite the setbacks, Bassey remained persistent and eventually earned a place in Leicester City’s youth system at the age of 15, where he impressed with strong performances for both the U18 and U23 teams.
His breakthrough came in 2020 with a move to Rangers, a step that launched him into prominence in European football and paved the way for his international career with Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with Voetbal International, Bassey admitted that his final year as a youth player felt like a turning point.
“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” he said.
The former Rangers defender explained that without a contract, he would have stopped pursuing football seriously and only played recreationally.
“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise,” Bassey added.
Reflecting on that period, the defender described it as a defining moment that pushed him to give everything he had.
“Looking back, that moment was good for me. It felt like a make-or-break point, so I had to give it everything,” he said. “I would have been at peace with myself either way, because I knew I had given my all.”
