Kuldeep Yadav expresses desire to become football coach: 'I am hopeful of getting a license'

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Kuldeep Yadav, who is currently part of the India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, has revealed that he wants to be a certified football coach after retiring from cricket.

The 29-year-old said that he wishes to get a license in football coaching after taking proper training. The left-arm spinner added that he isn't perfect yet, but is ready to put in the hard yard after his cricketing career.

"Beyond cricket, I'm hopeful of getting a license in football coaching. I'm not perfect, but I need to work on it a lot. Hopefully, when I leave cricket, I can invest time in it and take proper training. I've got friends who are associated with the game, and after cricket, if I want to do something, I would certainly like to contribute to football," Kuldeep Yadav said in a chat with his IPL team Delhi Capitals.

Kuldeep Yadav had met football icon David Beckham during his visit to India last year when the ODI World Cup 2023 was going on in the country. In a chat with Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav had revealed his chat with Beckham, and his liking for Premier League club Manchester United.

"I met him after the game (2023 WC against SL) and told him that I used to watch Manchester United because of Paul Scholes. I spoke a bit too directly (laughs). I also told him that I am a huge Gary Neville fan and requested him to let him know whenever he meets him. I told that after I finish my career I probably want to try being a football manager," Kuldeep had told Ashwin on his YouTube Channel.

On the second episode of DC Cafe, Kuldeep also talked about his dream to win the World Cup for India. He said players playing for India for a long time should at least win a World Cup.

"It's my dream to win the World Cup for India. This is my first T20 World Cup. I'm 29 years old and expect to play for as long as possible. Winning the World Cup is a long-term goal, and there's a bigger process behind it. If you're playing for India for a long time, you've got to win a World Cup. I think trophies do matter in the end, and you're playing to win the trophies. So winning the World Cup is my only dream," he said.

Kuldeep Yadav will be in action for India in their first match of the T20 World Cup 2024 against Ireland on Wednesday, June 1. Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are the three other spinners in the India squad.