IT’S BEEN over a year since a horror injury finally forced Stuart Dallas into retirement.
Though the Leeds United legend, 34, is not missing a single thing about playing and won’t even contemplate coaching until he can be “honest with himself” and give it everything.
Ex-Northern Ireland international Dallas made over 250 appearances for the Elland Road outfit and was a pivotal part of Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion-winning side.
But disaster struck in April 2022 when he suffered a femoral fracture in his knee after a sickening on-field collision with Man City’s Jack Grealish.
Dallas bravely fought to save his career but the “irreparable damage” eventually forced him to hang up his boots in May 2024 following a two-year battle.
The injury was so bad it still causes him pain today – though it’s all physical rather than mental as he does not miss a thing about playing.
Speaking to Sun Sport at the Leeds American Golf for the #RifeDontMiss putting challenge, celebrating the launch of the new RIFE Black Edition putters, Dallas said: “My knee’s alright. It allows me to do what I need to do now. I still need to go to the gym and keep up the strength in it. I knew that anyway and I suppose it holds me accountable to get in the gym and stuff as well. I play a bit of padel here and there too.
“I’m able to do bits and pieces and so far I’ve not really had many problems. It’s a bit sore at times but that’s just part and parcel of it due to how complex the injury was.”
For some, watching your former team-mates storm to Championship promotion after your forced retirement would have rubbed extra salt in the wound.
Not Dallas though.
He said: “I’m in a good place and I always have been throughout it. It’s been totally fine. I’ll be totally honest with you, I don’t miss any of it. Because of the age I was and I knew that I couldn’t physically play at that level – I don’t miss any of it.
“I’m very, very comfortable with my decision. I have a good life, a beautiful family who are healthy. I’ve got nothing to complain about.”
Daniel Farke, who Dallas spent his final year as a pro under, was the man who guided Leeds back to the top-flight.
Despite lifting the title, the German coach faced intense speculation over his future before the club backed him publicly.
And with three new additions – striker Lukas Nmecha, centre-back Jaka Bijol and defender Sebastiaan Bornauw – on board already, Dallas has no doubts that Farke deserved a shot at keeping Leeds up after bouncing back from last year’s play-off heartbreak.
He said: “He’s been brilliant. He’s remained calm throughout his whole time here and didn’t panic when things were going against him. Having worked with him I know exactly how he is and what he says in the media and how he acts is exactly the same and that’s brilliant for players.
“When he stuck his neck on the line and said that he was 100 per cent convinced that Leeds would get promoted, as a player that would give me a lot of confidence to go and perform.
“It’s definitely the right decision to keep him. What he’s achieved over back-to-back Championship seasons can’t be topped. He’ll have learned from his mistakes in the Premier League before with Norwich and is going to be obviously backed a bit better hopefully.”
Speaking of coaches, Dallas revealed his own plans to start his journey into the dug-out when confirming his playing days were done.
Though the ex-Brentford ace, who was equally at home on the pitch at full-back or in midfield, has put that on the back-burner for now – until he is ready to go into it with the same commitment he showed on the pitch.
He added: “I’ve done my badges. It’s not something where I’ve been focused on. Maybe down the line. I’ve got a lot to offer the game. At the minute there’s so many other avenues that I can go down.
“To be a coach, you’ve got to be fully committed. Not just for yourself, but for the people that you will be coaching. If I am to go into that, I want to be 100 per cent fully focused on it.
“At the minute there’s just other things going on that doesn’t allow me to do that. I wouldn’t be being honest with myself or with the people that I’d be coaching.”
Dallas appeared at the second #RifeDontMiss Challenge, celebrating the launch of the new RIFE Black Edition putters.
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