Swiss midfielder Silvan Wallner has retired from professional football at the age of 22, citing his commitment to “follow Jesus Christ” and observe the Sabbath as his reasons.
Wallner, who began his professional journey with FC Zurich in 2020, has made over 100 appearances, playing for clubs Wil and BW Linz, the latter of which he joined on a two-year contract in September.
In a statement shared by Blau-Weiß Linz, Wallner explained, “I am a devout Christian, and I read the Bible. I make my own decisions about my life. I wish to follow Jesus Christ, and the biblical day of rest has become significant to me. As a footballer, this means that I no longer wish to play professionally on Saturdays. This is a personal decision I reached recently. I am not yet affiliated with any church. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me in my career.”
This season, Wallner played five matches for Blau-Weiß Linz, with his final appearance being a 1-2 defeat against TSV Hartberg in late October.
He also recently featured for the Swiss U21 national team, with his last game in early September during a 1-2 loss to Albania.
