Swiss midfielder Silvan Wallner has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 22, citing his decision to “follow Jesus Christ” and observe the Sabbath as his primary reasons.
Wallner, who began his professional career with FC Zurich in 2020, has made over 100 appearances, playing for clubs including Wil and BW Linz. He signed a two-year contract with BW Linz in September.
In a statement released by Blau-Weiß Linz, Wallner shared: “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 as a result, the biblical day of rest has become important to me.
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“As a footballer, this means I no longer want to play professionally on Saturdays. This is my personal conviction, which I have reached in the last few days. I am not yet a member of any church. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me in my career.”
Wallner has made five appearances for Blau-Weiß Linz this season, with his last match being a 1-2 defeat against TSV Hartberg in late October. He was also part of the Swiss U21 national team as recently as September, in a 1-2 loss to Albania.