Richard Stearman says he knew the "writing was on the wall" after announcing his decision to quit playing at 36.
Almost 20 years on from making his Leicester City debut in October 2004, he has now turned to full-time coaching with last season's National League promotion finalists Solihull Moors.
He was part of the Solihull squad who reached Wembley twice in a week at the end of 2023-24 - and was an unused substitute as the Moors lost to Gateshead in the FA Trophy final, just seven days after missing out on a place in the Football League - to Bromley in the National League promotion final.