From Cech to Ferdinand, seven footballers who tried their luck at other sports

From Premier League winners to legends of the game, plenty of footballers have chosen to try other sports either once their career has ended or even in the offseason.

After spending most of their lives in the changing rooms with their team-mates, it is perhaps no surprise to see some players opt to go into a career away from punditry or management.

Former Chelsea goalkeeper, and two-time Premier League winner, Petr Cech and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand are just two men who attempted to forge a career in sports other than football.

Here, we look at seven football stars who tried their luck at other sports…

Petr Cech

Just months after playing his last match as a footballer, Cech joined National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) Southern Conference Division 2 team Guildford Phoenix as a goaltender.

Though he had been given the job of technical and performance advisor at former club Chelsea, Cech clearly missed the buzz of a changing room.

That led to him joining the Phoenix, with Cech revealing that he trains frequently with the team having previously played ice hockey growing up.

“The match days are something I was missing and so for me this is absolutely fantastic,” Cech told the Athletic after making the crucial save in a shootout which saw the Phoenix defeat Swindon Wildcats 2.

David James

Several rugby stars have chosen to depart England to forge a career in the NFL, with James hopeful of becoming one of the first football players to do the same.

Back in 2003, James, who at the time played for West Ham, accepted an invitation to train with NFL team the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins put James through his paces as a quarterback, wide receiver and kicker, with the former England keeper excited to have been invited.

"It's a great opportunity to learn about more about the sport and put myself up against some of the best athletes in the world,” he told the BBC.

Grant Holt

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    • Potentially the strangest career change was Grant Holt’s decision to swap the football pitch for the wrestling ring.

    After finishing his career with Barrow in the National League, Holt agreed to join the World Association of Wrestling.

    And his time in wrestling has so proven fruitful, with the former Norwich star winning his first fight when he was the last man standing in a Royal Rumble.

    Joe Hart

    With Hart not selected by Gareth Southgate to be part of England’s World Cup squad, the current Spurs keeper swapped his goalkeeping gloves for a cricket bat.

    While England defeated Sweden in the quarter-finals, Hart could be seen on the cricket field in his home town of Shrewsbury.

    Hart showed why he had been England’s number one for the best part of nine years by taking a catch and scoring six runs.

    Paolo Maldini

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    After retiring from football after a legendary career with AC Milan, Maldini decided to pick up a tennis racket and qualified for the Aspira Tennis Cup in 2017.

    Part of the ATP Challenger Tour, Maldini partnered coach Stefano Landonio in the doubles tournament, though it proved to be a short stay.

    The duo suffered a quick exit from the competition, losing 6-1, 6-1 in just 42 minutes, with Maldini claiming he had suffered a muscle injury.

    Jerzy Dudek

    • Sky Sports constantly made obvious Liverpool mistake during Sheffield United victory

    One of the heroes of Liverpool’s Champions League win in 2005, Dudek retired in 2013, with Real Madrid his final club.

    The Polish keeper had raced go-karts before becoming a professional footballer, and switched back to motor racing after his retirement from football.

    Everyone’s favourite jelly-legged Champions League winner, Dudek retired in 2013 and promptly swapped the football pitch for the racing track, where he now competes in endurance races.

    “You need passions in life – they are what keep you going. Motor racing gives me a lot of joy and I’m loving it,” he told LFCTV in 2017.

    Rio Ferdinand

    • Rio Ferdinand admits to dying his beard to keep his youthful appearance

    After winning six Premier League titles, Ferdinand decided to move into the boxing ring after his football career finished.

    Sponsored by Betfair, Ferdiand began training to qualify for his British Boxing Board of Control licence, with Ferdinand revealing his passion for the sport.

    “Boxing is an amazing sport for the mind and the body. I have always had a passion for it and this challenge is the perfect opportunity to show people what’s possible,” he said.

    Despite Betfair assembling a team of experts though, it was announced in 2018 that the BBBC had refused to hand Ferdinand a licence to fight.

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