Introduction: This study examines the reasons why female and male players, selected to a nationwide youth football talent programme (regional youth teams), dropped out of football between 15–23 years of age.
Methods: The study builds on the answers provided by 363 women and 170 men to an open-ended question on a questionnaire: “Can you describe in your own words why you stopped playing club football?”
Results and discussion: The analysis showed that for both women and men, structural reasons were the most common motives for dropping out, followed by interpersonal and intrapersonal reasons. Although the analysis did not show any significant differences in dropout constraints between genders, the significance of different reasons for dropping out within these constraint dimensions varies between women and men. For women, there is a gradual shift from injuries causing the end of a football career in the age group 15–19 years to a perceived lack of time and an increased focus on education and working career. Among men, with an increase in age, injuries, studies, and work become the main reasons for dropping out of football, although not as clearly as among women. Moreover, the findings emphasize that the reasons for dropping out interact with each other, and some prevent while others support continued play. Understanding the reasons why selected talented players dropped out of football can provide guidance for sustainable talent development, thereby reducing elements that influence dropout behavior among talented youth football players.