RETIRED England international and Saints player Wayne Bridge wants “to do something in sport” and is considering a new career in coaching young players once he gets all his training badges.

He told the Echo at the weekend that he has turned down a lot of TV opportunities to spend time with his young family but said all he ever wanted to do was “play, play, play football” but was “looking at coaching and working with kids”.

Capped 36 times for his country Wayne, who played at left back, is a graduate of Southampton Academy and made his debut in 1998.

He went on to play for Chelsea, West Ham and Man City.

Married to Frankie Bridge of the girl group The Saturdays, he said that since his retirement he had done “ a little bit of TV” – he was a contestant in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2016) and “some football punditry here and there” but had concentrated on his family life. He said his wife was now the bread winner.

“I have said no to a lot of stuff”, he admitted, but said that there were opportunities coming up but he did not want to elaborate. But he said his real passion was sport.

Although enjoying family life he said that he missed not playing professionally although he

did play a five-a-side game last week

Wayne was speaking on a return visit to Southampton to officially open the new Crafty Fox craft beer and alehouse in Portswood, which is owned by his friends Neil Davis and Colin O’Keeffe.

Neil also attended Southampton Academy and he and Wayne played together.

“Those were great times but it was totally different then. You had to clean boots and the changing rooms. You were taught respect. Football is not all about money,” said Wayne.

While admitting that during his career he earned good money he said that what he was surprised about was the way that salaries had gone up and up. “I thought it would taper off but it hasn’t.”

On his visit to the Crafty Fox, Wayne was accompanied by his father, Mick, who lives in Winchester. “I try to get back home every month and this time called to see my sister Mandy who had a new baby on Friday. He said both mother and baby were doing fine and he wished his friends Neil and Colin every success with their new venture.