‘I’ve quit football at 22 to become a churchgoer, I don’t want to play on Saturdays because it’s my day of rest’

TOP-FLIGHT champion Silvan Wallner has quit football aged just 22 in favour of going to church every Saturday.

The defender won the Swiss league title with hometown club FC Zurich two years ago.

Wallner has ten youth-level caps for Switzerland and was tipped to break into their senior side.

He landed a move to Austrian Bundesliga side Blau-Weiss Linz in September, penning a two-year deal.

But he has now ended his contract by mutual consent after putting faith ahead of football.

Wallner insisted: “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.

“As a footballer this means that 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 thank with all my heart all the officials, staff and players at Blau-Weiss Linz.

“I also say a big thank you to all the people who have accompanied and supported me in my sporting career.”

Wallner had made just five appearances for Linz, who sit midway in Austria‘s 12-team top-flight.

He came through FC Zurich and played 49 senior games for the Swiss Super League club.

Wallner is a believer in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, who observe Saturday not Sunday as the day of rest.