Chris Smalling: Mourinho bond, genetic testing and the search for a new club

Chris Smalling has spent most of his career proving people wrong, so the latest twist should not come as a surprise. The 36-year-old defender is back in the north west of England with his family, working out what comes next after leaving Al-Fayha. He is not ready to stop playing, and while the next move is not clear yet, he knows exactly what he is looking for. Smalling's bond with Jose Mourinho has outlasted the famous public criticism from November 2016. Back then, Mourinho questioned his willingness to play through injury. Smalling now reveals he was having injections for a broken toe, reached the limit and was forced to stop during a warm-up. Instead of breaking their relationship, the moment made it stronger. "I think he's just following me then," Smalling said with a smile during a wide-ranging interview. "We just hit it off straight away... He is a big part of my career, my journey and we still have a good relationship now. He'd message me funny memes and things like this. So that camaraderie is still there." When Mourinho took the Real Madrid job this summer, Smalling was quick to send a good luck message. The pair first worked together at Manchester United between 2016 and 2018, and were reunited at Roma in 2021. Smalling credits both Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson for understanding how to inspire senior players. "A lot of managers can give good team talks but if you look at someone eye-to-eye, see the passion and real belief that it's going to happen, senior players follow and the rest lock in," he said. Smalling's route to the top was anything but straightforward. Eighteen years ago he was at non-league Maidstone, planning to study financial economics at university. He had his A levels and was looking at other non-league clubs near Leicester when Fulham came in. Roy Hodgson watched one practice game and offered a contract. "It wasn't even a full week. I didn't have any time to get my head around it. I was just in total shock," Smalling recalled. Since then, he has compiled 580 club appearances in three countries, won trophies with Manchester United and Roma, reached a Champions League final and earned 31 England caps. He was an ever-present for Al-Fayha in the Saudi Pro-League last season. Now, at 36, Smalling is paying even more attention to the details. He says he knows his body better than when he was 26, and has adjusted his recovery, diet and supplements. He has even gone through genetics testing to fine-tune what he takes between sessions. As he puts it, actual training takes up very little time - longevity comes from what happens around it. The next chapter is still to be written, but Smalling is not approaching it as a winding-down exercise. "When you get beyond 30, each year is precious in terms of enjoying playing and being passionate about football," he said. With his career still alive, he is ready for one more challenge.