For the first time in a very, very long time EFL stalwart Jobi McAnuff has had the chance to take his foot off the gas at this time of the year following his retirement at the end of last season. But old habits die hard. 'As a professional footballer, I tended to give myself a couple of weeks and then get back into it, working out and making sure you're right for pre-season,' McAnuff began. 'I've got to be honest … I've kind of carried that on! I got a little bit of stick because I was on holiday and posted a little something on Instagram and I've got loads of mates of mine who were like 'listen, you've retired now, give it up, you don't need to keep going' and it's funny because that's the side of me that will never switch off. Jobi McAnuff is enjoying his retirement as a Sky Sports pundit for their EFL coverage McAnuff announced his retirement in May of this year after his eight-club professional career 'As much as it is physical exercise, I find mentally it really helps too. I was on holiday, but just to get myself off for an hour into a gym and do a bike or go for a run and just be able to focus on that thing for an hour, it's important for me and something I've managed to keep going. 'Though it's nice that I'm not having to push myself to the limit that maybe you have to do when you're a professional footballer.' That little insight into life after football for McAnuff is an indication of the work ethic and dedication that were key factors in the longevity he enjoyed as a player. When he called it a day six months short of his 40th birthday, former midfielder McAnuff had racked up an incredible 757 appearances in a career lasting 23 seasons. McAnuff (middle) is set to be a mainstay of Sky Sports's EFL coverage for the coming season The tireless McAnuff made over 30 appearances a season in 18 of those campaigns and spent 20 of them in the EFL. With a family summer holiday in Majorca with his wife and two young boys, the Euros to watch and only a few months gone since his retirement announcement McAnuff has not yet had the chance to fully reflect on all he has packed into his eight-club professional career which began back at Wimbledon in 2000. When he does, his debut senior debut against Norwich in August 2001, first goal against Rotherham a few months later, captaining Reading to the 2012 Championship title, winning the National League with Leyton Orient, playing for Jamaica and representing them at the Copa America and in the Gold Cup final will be among the standout memories. A career highlight for McAnuff (right) was captaining Reading in the Premier League But, he added: 'I have to say the biggest highlight or bonus is what I have done, I have done it for as long as I have. 'Growing up I just loved playing football, winning games, that's what matters to me and the fact I've been able to do it for so long has probably been the biggest positive for me in my career.' As he approached the finish line, coaching and management emerged as possible options for McAnuff after football. He sampled both at Leyton Orient, firstly as player-coach and then as manager last season, leading them to a mid-table finish as interim manager for the end of the campaign, and he could see the appeal of developing players or making the crucial calls that translate into three points. The midfielder's last club was Leyton Orient, who he briefly managed in a player-coach role 'I want to be that guy who makes the decisions that win the game for his football team, that identifies a pattern or way of playing that will suit that team,' McAnuff said. 'When that comes off, and we had some really good results in my time there, there is a real buzz. 'You come off the pitch and the players are going, you know what 'yeah that's what the gaffer mentioned about him or about us' and 'we can do this' and the belief starts growing or 'this guy actually knows what he's talking about.' Sky Sports pundit McAnuff understands why managers go back into the game due to the buzz 'You just get that buzz and it's about winning games which is something I've always wanted and had in my life. I can see why so many managers keep going back for more.' But McAnuff has also impressed on screen during the last two years, showing that he also knows what he is talking about as an increasingly prominent pundit too. With his media career guided by former professional-turned media consultant Warren Haughton, McAnuff has become a mainstay of Sky Sports's EFL coverage. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility