Entrepreneurial interest, career development, and economic independence among athletes: a systematic literature review (2020–2026)

Abstract

Athletes face relatively short and uncertain career trajectories, making career transition and economic independence important concerns. This systematic literature review examined how entrepreneurial interest, entrepreneurship education, financial literacy, and related competencies support athletes’ career development, employability, and economic independence. Following the PRISMA 2020 framework, a structured search of the Scopus database identified 134 records, of which 50 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative and thematic synthesis. The findings revealed four major themes: the role of sport-specific competencies and entrepreneurship education in developing entrepreneurial intention and self-efficacy; the contribution of dual-career and structured transition programs to post-career entrepreneurship; the broader economic benefits of sport-related social entrepreneurship; and the moderating effects of gender, sport discipline, and institutional support. Overall, entrepreneurial competencies and educational support can strengthen athletes’ career adaptability, employability, and economic independence during and after their sporting careers. Future research should emphasize longitudinal designs, cross-national comparisons, and validated measures of athlete-specific entrepreneurial self-efficacy.