By Alexander Lynn
Football is a game of two halves – career and retirement. For every Gary Lineker given a lucrative punditry career and an unlimited supply of crisps, there are ten others who do something different.
Ray Wilson
Huddersfield and Everton left-back Ray Wilson was part of the 1966 World Cup-winning England team. One would imagine that after such a momentous achievement, Wilson would have had his pick of any number of high-profile career moves. However, having buried West Germany’s hopes in 1966, Wilson instead used his expertise to become an undertaker once he retired from the beautiful game.
Stuart Tomlinson
Burton keeper Stuart Tomlinson retired at just 28 due to a knee ligament injury. Swapping the net for a ring, Tomlinson emigrated to the United States where he joined World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Performing under the name “Hugo Knox”, he is now hoping to become Britain’s biggest wrestling star.
Alan Comfort
Everyone hates football fans with a holier-than-thou attitude, but what about the players? Leyton Orient star Alan Comfort made 150 appearances for the O’s between 1986 and 1989. After football, Comfort became a vicar and assumed the position of Orient’s club chaplain. Comfort by name, comfort by nature.
Arjan de Zeeuw
Centre-backs are known for using their heads, but de Zeeuw gave the phrase a whole new meaning. Retiring in 2009, the Dutchman and former Wigan star never earned a national team cap. Instead, he chose to serve his country by other means, returning to his hometown of Alkmaar to train as a forensic detective.
Leon McKenzie
It’s not often that footballers pack up and then start a professional career in another sport. Former Crystal Palace, Peterborough, Norwich and Coventry forward Leon McKenzie, who has battled depression, became a professional boxer. A southpaw, McKenzie competes at super-middleweight level and is currently undefeated in nine contests (eight wins and a draw).
John Chiedozie
Every side looks for a winger with a bit of spring in his step. Former Spurs wide-man John Chiedozie perhaps took this too literally, opening a bouncy castle and soft-play equipment business in 1992.
Philipe Albert
With modern footballers expected to compete as professional athletes, healthy food is a must. Realising the importance of getting his five-a-day, popular Newcastle centre-back Philippe Albert now spends his time running a fruit and vegetable company in Belgium.
Faustino Asprilla
Colombian striker Tino Asprilla spent two seasons at St James’ Park from 1996-98, before retiring in 2004. Asprilla recently resurfaced in his home nation launching a range of flavoured prophylactics.
Barry Horne
Chemistry on the pitch is an integral part of a team’s performance. No-one can attest to this better than former Everton midfielder and Wales international Barry Horne. After retiring from football, Horne used his first-class chemistry degree to teach chemistry and physics at a school in Chester.
Gordon Davies
Fulham striker Gordon Davies netted 159 times in 394 appearances for the Cottagers and earned 16 caps for Wales in the process. Davies later swapped striking goals for striking vermin, launching his own pest-control company after retiring from football in 1993.
Kevin Francis
Standing at 6ft 7ins, former Derby and Hull forward Kevin Francis always cut an imposing figure. Francis obviously enjoyed putting them away and now has a career as a police officer in Alberta, Canada, having retired from football in 2005.
Kevin Kyle
Between 2002-10, former Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle earned ten caps for the Scottish national team. Having spent several years floating between different Scottish sides, Kyle now works in the Shetland Islands as storeman of a hospitality ship.
David May
Managers always warn players to stay away from the booze before a big match. Taking advantage of his retirement, former Manchester United centre-back David May is now an importer of South African wines.
Fabian Barthez
Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Fabian Barthez holds the joint record for most clean sheets in a World Cup, having kept ten for France. No stranger to going the distance, Barthez entered the world of motorsport following
