First up on our list of former soccer players with surprising new careers is none other than Daniel Agger. Known for his 8-year spell with Liverpool in the 2000s, signing from Brondby and becoming a defender during his time in the Premier League, Agger made 175 appearances and scored nine goals for LFC. He’s now making his mark on the world (literally) as a tattoo artist. As a long time enthusiast of tattoos, it made sense for him to pursue life as a professional tattoo artist after retiring in 2016. He now co-owns ‘Tattoodo’, a successful tattoo community and booking platform, and runs his own tattoo studio where he has complete creative freedom. He also owns a sewage company, two bars in Copenhagen and manages an investment firm. It’s safe to say the Liverpool icon has been busy making even more moves since retirement!

7. Thomas Gravesen - From “Mad Dog” to Poker Millionaire

Next up is Thomas Gravesen, a Danish midfielder who needs no introduction for fans of Everton, Real Madrid, and Celtic. Nicknamed “Mad Dog” for his tough tackling and no-nonsense attitude on the field. After retiring in 2009, Gravesen moved to Las Vegas to pursue a life-long passion for poker. He’s now a successful poker player, with some sources claiming he’s currently worth up to £100 million, a poker millionaire in his own right! He’s also a savvy investor in business opportunities, proving that his strategy skills went far beyond the pitch.

6. Jody Craddock - From Centre-Back to Artist

Next, there’s Jody Craddock, who spent 20 years playing for clubs like Sunderland, Wolves and Stoke City. After retiring in 2014, Craddock returned to a childhood passion of his: art. As a professional artist with canvas as his medium, he sells his stunning abstract and portrait paintings on his website and has collaborated with museums and football clubs. He was even commissioned by Wolves to design the artwork for all their matchday programmes during the 2017-18 season. This second career path has proven that Craddock is just as creative with a paintbrush as he was on the field!

5. Phillip Mulryne - From Red Devil to Catholic Priest

Arguably, the former soccer player with the most shocking career change is Phillip Mulryne. Originally pursuing a life in soccer as a midfielder for Manchester United and Norwich City, Mulryne turned away from the game entirely to seek spiritual enlightenment. He began training for the Catholic priesthood in 2009 and now leads a congregation at St. Mary’s Priory Church in Cork, Ireland. His journey from feeling unfulfilled, despite a glamorous career, to finding purpose in a calling that’s about as far from the world of soccer as it gets, shows that we all want different things out of life!

4. Fabien Barthez - From World Cup Winner to Racing Driver

The next former player on our list is now living life as a retiree in the fast lane! Fabien Barthez, best known for his defense skills at Manchester United and for helping France win the 1998 World Cup, traded in his goalie gloves for racing ones. After his retirement, Barthez started his professional racing career in 2008 and by 2013, won the French GT Championship. In 2016, he co-founded the Panis Barthez Competition racing team alongside F1 driver Olivier Panis. The former Manchester United player even competed at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours race, putting his fast reflex skills to good use off the soccer pitch!

3. Jose Manuel Pinto - From Goalkeeper to Zumba Instructor

Next up is a Barcelona hero known for his loud and outgoing personality on and off the pitch, Jose Manuel Pinto. Even though he may have spent most of his Camp Nou career sitting on the bench, Pinto never did anything quietly, which explains his life after retirement. Since 2014, Pinto now works full-time in the music and fitness industry. Under the stage name ‘Wahin’, the former goalkeeper started a record label as a music producer and also teaches high-energy Zumba classes. His music has even made it to Hollywood, with his track ‘La Habana’ being featured in the Fast and the Furious franchise. Pinto is also considered a public figure on social media, regularly posting his Zumba routines and spreading positivity to his massive follower base. We love how he turned his passion for performing into a career that’s centered around bringing people joy!

2. Vinnie Jones - From Aggressive Midfielder to Hollywood Star

Another former soccer player who also made it to Hollywood is one of the toughest midfielders in the history of the game, Vinnie Jones. If you watched English football (or soccer as we call it) in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, you’ll remember Jones throughout his time playing for Wimbledon, Leeds and Chelsea. Embracing his “hardman” image in the world of soccer, Jones transitioned to a career in acting following his retirement in 1999.

As one of the rare former soccer players to become successful in Hollywood, Jones has starred in cult classics like Snatch, Mean Machine and the Midnight Meat Train. His strategy for taking acting roles that play up the tough guy image he was famous for on the pitch is a big reason why his transition was so effortless. Despite Jones’ decision to pursue acting being considered a risky career move, he’s now as recognizable on film as he was on the soccer field! 

1.Arjan de Zeeuw - From Premier League Defender to Detective

Finally, you might remember Dutch centre-back Arjan de Zeeuw for his defending talent during his time with Barnsley, Wigan Athletic, Portsmouth and Coventry City. Despite his success as a professional soccer player and a degree in medicine, de Zeeuw went with a surprising career path in law enforcement following his retirement in 2009. The opportunity arose when the Dutch police force was looking for highly educated recruits, leading him down a path he never could have imagined solving crimes. Now based near his hometown in the Netherlands, de Zeeuw is an investigative detective specializing in forensics. He uses his sharp thinking and analytical skills that made him a great defender to solve real-life crimes. If his time as a centre-back making moves under pressure prepared him for anything, it was this impressive leadership role!