"I was fed up with professional football" - Former Manchester United defender explains why he is working as a postman
Former Manchester United defender Marnick Vermijl has explained why he has started working another job alongside playing football. Vermijl stated that he now works as a postman and developed an interest in the profession because football had become tiresome.
Marnick Vermijl is a product of the Manchester United academy. He played for the U-18 setup of the club and was promoted to the senior team in 2012. However, he only made two appearances for the club's first team before he was sold to Sheffield Wednesday in 2015. Vermijl’s two appearances for Manchester United came in the Carabao Cup.
After leaving United, Vermijl played at various lower-division teams before eventually joining Belgian side Thes Sport in 2020, where he currently plies his trade.
Thes Sport is currently in the Belgium National Division 1, which is the third-highest division in the Belgian football pyramid. In a recent interview, Vermijl stated that he was "fed up" with football and now spends his time between playing for Thes and being a postman. The former Manchester United man said (via Manchester Evening News):
"I was fed up with professional football. You are too dependent on the trainer you have. Finding pleasure was also a big factor for me. As a postman I have to get up at four o'clock, but now I am home around noon and can pick up the children from school every day. That is a luxury."
Marnick Vermijl is a versatile defender who primarily operates as a left-back but can feature across the backline.
When Marnick Vermijl's agent issued an ultimatum to Manchester United regarding playing opportunities
Back in 2014, when Marnick Vermijl was on a loan spell at Dutch side NEC Nijmegen from Manchester United, he reportedly issued a warning to the Red Devils about his lack of first-team opportunities. In Vermijl's three-year spell at Old Trafford, he was unable to break into the first-team.
Frustrated with the lack of opportunities, Vermijl’s agent at the time, Tonny Dullers, said the player wasn't interested in another loan move and would leave United if his lack of playing time continues. He said:
“Man United is happy with his progress. They want to loan him to a better team next season, but Marnick isn’t keen on it. He wants to be promoted to the first team squad or a transfer. He still has a contract until 2015, but a lot depends on (Manchester United manager David) Moyes’ future. If he stays, he’ll probably let Marnick go, as he didn’t oppose a loan. But if he is sacked, then maybe Marnick still has a future at Man United.”