An Unpaid Labor of Love: Professional Footballers, Family Life, and the Problem of Job Relocation

This article presents qualitative findings which cast light on experiences of job-related geographical relocation for professional footballers and their families. Job relocation is an issue for players and partners, as labor market migration is commonplace in this profession. Although cultural expectations often lead to personal sacrifice, initial research findings indicate that many partners are deciding against relinquishing control over their own prospects and identities, and exercising influence in relation to negotiations concerning living arrangements. Professional footballers are an interesting group to examine for their work contaminates the lives of significant others. Based on interviews with 49 professional footballers, the data presented illuminate the interdependence between home and work and illustrate how decision-making processes and subsequent outcomes impact on the organization of, and living arrangements for, family members.