Jermain Defoe admits he “switched off” as a Rangers player after taking on his coaching role.
The veteran penned a new deal under former boss Steven Gerrard with the view to making the transition onto the Ibrox backroom staff.
But after failing to play many minutes in Glasgow the attacker admitted he found it difficult to remain focused as a player.
And the former England international revealed he talked it through with Giovanni van Bronckhorst before leaving for Sunderland - only to retire a short time later.
He told Rio Ferdinand’s Five podcast: “It was something that, when I signed the new contract at Rangers it was sort of like player-coach contract.
"When you win the league you're up here (high) at a club like that, I said about standards, it's all about winning because it's all that's in front of you it's all they talk about.
"Every game you play you have to win. We played Real Madrid in pre-season, it was their second team, we played them and the fans expect you to win. It doesn't matter who you play against, this is the best club in the world, we've got the best fans, you have to win.
"When I walked into that environment at the back end of my career, you get the fire back because I didn't play at Bournemouth, I was buzzing.
"Then you win the league and the celebrations are unbelievable, to win 55 league titles. The next season as a player, to player-coach, it was hard to balance the two.
"With me it's just football, train, recover and get ready for the game. As a player-coach where do I do my coaching? I tried to tick all the boxes in terms of preparation and recovery.
"There were certain days I'd finish training and then there'd be days where I'd think 'Should I be taking the forwards for some finishing?'
"I'd do it a few times, but then should I be inside getting a massage? I spoke to Stevie (Gerrard), he said he understood that the club wanted to help me with the transition but understood how difficult it was going to be, because how do you balance it?
"Because I was doing both I wasn't playing much and I think you switch off a bit mentally because I went through a period where I didn't play for ages.
“Then a new manager came in, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and I sat down with him and talked, I knew he'd been at Barcelona, we talked about the philosophy and he was unbelievable.
"In terms of playing I just switched off and it was difficult. I went to Sunderland and it was getting up to speed and not playing, playing a game, resting, (then) playing a game and then lower back problems (and) ankles.
"I just thought am I blocking the way for someone coming through because Jermain Defoe is here."
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