Andy Murray has admitted he regrets leaving school without any qualifications, warning young athletes not to follow his example. The 38-year-old three-time Grand Slam winner left education at 15 to train at a tennis academy in Barcelona.
Murray, who retired from professional tennis last year, told snooker legend Stephen Hendry on his Cue Tips podcast: “I moved there when I was 15 and studied there for like a year, but, yeah, no qualifications. Things worked out fine for me, but I regret that.”
The former Wimbledon champion urged aspiring players to prioritise education alongside sport. “I would not give that advice to my own children. If they were in that situation, I’d be like, ‘Look keep doing your sport or what your passion is but just keep up with education.’”
Murray highlighted the risks of the academy route, noting that out of 200-300 children training there, only two or three turned professional. “I wish I’d spent more time focusing on my education,” he added. He also regretted not learning Spanish during his year in Barcelona, attributing this to a perceived British laziness with languages.
