Agger, Gravesen, Barthez: Footballers who did odd jobs after retiring | OneFootball

Eric Cantona enjoyed an extremely successful football career.

the Frenchman established himself as one of the greatest players in Premier League history in a memorable stint with Manchester United.

Cantona shocked the world when he retired from football at the age of just 31.

He turned to acting and has starred in many films since. Cantona battled Vinnie Jones many times on the football pitch and the Englishman went down the same path.

But who else have had ‘odd’ jobs after hanging up their boots?

Twitter user @knockemdownes has created a list of players that have had ‘odd’ jobs after retiring.

We’ve listed some of the best ones below…

Thomas Gravesen – Pro poker player

The former Everton and Real Madrid man resided in Las Vegas and became a professional poker player after retiring.

Reports have claimed he is worth around £100m.

Fabien Barthez – Racing car driver

Barthez took up professional motorsport just a year after retiring.

He became French GT champion in 2013 and entered the Le Mans 24-hour race a year later.

He set up his own team, Panis Barthez Competition, in 2016.

Jody Craddock – Artist

Craddock turned out for Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

The Englishman worked with former club Wolves as well as many museums.

He sells his artwork at https://www.jodycraddockart.com/.

Phillip Albert – Greengrocer

Albert turned out for Newcastle and is best known for scoring a wonderful chip against Manchester United in 1996.

After hanging up his boots in 2000, Albert just wanted to be normal and became a greengrocer, which he worked as until 2012.

He said in 2019, per the Guardian: “I would prepare the produce for customers. I did it for 11 years and didn’t touch the money I earned in my football career. Up early, finishing late, that’s what I wanted: a normal life. I’m very proud of it. Otherwise when you stop football, you do nothing. You have no life.”

Faustino Asprilla – Condom seller

“You know, sex has always been important to me. I am Asprilla: lots of sex, no rules and pure life,” Asprilla said, per The Sun.

Asprilla also has a farm and sells sugar cane to the Colombian government.

Arjan De Zeeuw – Private detective

In 2009, the former Portsmouth and Wigan man began working as an investigative detective in Alkmaar, specialising in forensics.

Daniel Agger – Tattoo artist

Agger became a qualified tattoo artist shortly after retiring and invested in a company called Tattoodo.

The former Liverpool man also owns a sewage management business, two bars in Copenhagen and an investment company.

Phillip Mulryne – Catholic Priest

Mulryne played once for Manchester United and also turned out for Norwich City for six years.

In 2009, at the age of 31, Mulryne began formation for the Catholic priesthood. Eight years later he was ordained a priest.

Jose Manuel Pinto – Zumba teacher

Pinto is best known for his stint at Barcelona. the hot-headed goalkeeper spent seven seasons at Barca, where he played 87 times.

He became a Zumba teacher shortly after retiring. He created his own dance fitness company, p13fit, and regularly posts about his classes on Instagram.

The 47-year-old now looks unrecognisable after ditching his braids.

Djibril Cissé – DJ

The former Liverpool, Marseille an France striker now works as a DJ and performs under the stage name, Tcheba.

Dani Osvaldo – Rockstar

Osvaldo declined an offer from Chievo to continue his playing career, and started a career in music instead.

“People sometimes don’t understand me,” the South American, who continues to play with his band Barrio Viejo, was quoted as saying by the Daily Star. “They look at me like, ‘You are crazy. You had everything, played for some of the best teams in the world and decided to just quit – for this.’

“But, I don’t know, it’s my passion. Just play. If the people like it, better. If not, we like it at least.”

(Football Terrace)