When we think of footballers, we picture luxury cars, massive stadiums, and sky-high salaries. But what if I told you some of the game’s most familiar names once worked totally unexpected jobs? I am talking about some famous football players with odd jobs and roles, so surprising you would never connect them to elite athletes.
From police informants and electricians to tattoo artists and wrestlers, these players proved that their journeys were anything but ordinary. Their odd jobs shaped their personalities, toughened their mindset, and in some cases, even paid their bills long before football fame arrived. Let’s get through the most fascinating stories behind these football stars.
Top 10 Famous Football Players With Odd Jobs
Soccer is the most watched sport worldwide, with billions of fans from all parts of the world, which makes it rank at the top of the most popular sports. And footballers are admired everywhere on the basis of their skills and performances.
Moreover, footballers receive the highest-paying contracts compared to the other sports players. However, this luxury is never given to them since their childhood. They have earned it, and before this success, they have worked for survival.
Some footballers have struggled so hard that learning about them gives a solid adrenaline rush. Besides, some transitioned from footballers to other jobs because it was their passion. Here are the footballers with odd jobs you can never think of.
1 – Gheorghe Popescu
- Country | Romania
- Profession | Informant
- Status | Retired
Popescu, a professional footballer from Romania, has played for many different clubs in the top leagues. He remained the captain of FC Barcelona and showed his leadership skills there. Moreover, he also remained part of Tottenham Hotspur and with Lecce.
Besides his football career, Gheorghe has also worked as a police informant. Then, he moved to the football world. However, he left the job after entering football. However, his career was affected many times due to his job.
2 – Ben Burgess
- Country | England
- Profession | Teacher
- Status | Retired
Ben Burgess played his role as a teacher with outstanding thought and a different nature. The English footballer is best known for his role as a Forward player and a striker for Blackpool and Hull City. He retired from football and started teaching to improve the skills of children.
Burgess believed that playing under pressure and scoring a goal against tough opponents was not a success. While counseling a child who hates reading to pick a book is the real way to achieve success.
3 – Stuart Pearce
- Country | England
- Profession | Electrician
- Status | Retired
Having an unforgiving style of play, Stuart Pearce worked as an electrician before starting his professional football career. He managed his expenses after working as an electrician. The English player has played for many clubs, including English Premier League Manchester City.
Moreover, he also appeared in 700 club games. In his career, while advertising for Nottingham Forest, Pearce did the electricity work of Brian Clough, who was the manager of the team.
4 – Tim Wiese
- Country | West Germany
- Profession | Wrestler
- Status | Retired
Tim Weise was a German professional football goalkeeper who played for different clubs in his professional career. He received six caps, and the famous teams for which he played for are Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim. Wiese spent a great career in the football field.
After getting retired from football in 2014, he started professional wrestling and wrestled his first fight in 2016. He is still active and is looking forward to his next professional fight.
5 – Daniel Agger
- Country | Denmark
- Profession | Tattoo Artist
- Status | Retired
After retiring from professional football, Daniel Agger underwent training to make tattoos. Now, he has joined Tattoodo, which is the world’s largest tattoo-making industry. Daniel also invested £450,000 in the Danish sewage company KloAgger.
The Danish defender played wonderfully well for his team and clubs and participated in many breathtaking wins. He also played for Liverpool and Brondby in his professional career.
6 – Papiss Cisse
- Country | Senegal
- Profession | Ambulance driver
- Status | Active
The fact behind this job of Papiss is still not known, but the reports revealed that he had this job to save the patients dying on the road. The Senegal player started this job at the age of 15 years. Moreover, he left his school to do this job full-time to meet his expenses.
Then, he started his football journey and became a shining star of the football world. He played for Senegal’s national football team and also for SC Freiburg in his professional career. Currently, he is playing for Çaykur Rizespor.
7 – Eric Cantona
- Country | France
- Profession | Actor
- Status | Retired
The former professional footballer is now playing his role as an actor and film producer. Cantona started his football career in 1983. He remained part of many world-class clubs, including Leeds and Manchester United. Cantona retired from football at the age of 30 years.
Then, he started his career as an actor and is currently performing his duties as a film producer and director. He played the role of the French Ambassador in the English film Elizabeth.
8 – Nigel De Jong
- Country | Netherland
- Profession | Car Dealer
- Status | Retired
The professional football player started his professional career in 2002 and played for many different clubs in the past. His technical skills earned him so much fame at the beginning of his career. De Jong also played for the Netherlands national football team.
Professional football players also have a great interest in the automobile industry. Thus, he is now working as a car dealer.
9 – Jamie Vardy
- Country | England
- Profession | Factory Worker
- Status | Active
The English footballer did a lot of hard work before coming to the professional career. He worked as a factory technician and made medical instruments to meet his expenses. At the same time, he played non-league football matches to maximize his experience.
Vardy is currently the in-form player for Leicester City and has played his part in many epic wins of the club.
10 – Craig Noone
- Country | England
- Profession | Roofer
- Status | Active
Noone’s professional football career started in 2005. Since then, he has played brilliantly and shown his exceptional skills to the world. In his career, he has played for many world-class clubs. Now, he is currently having a contract with Macarthur FC and is playing as a winger.
Before coming to football, Craig Noone worked as a roofer and worked hard to make a living. Moreover, he also played local football matches for small wages. And then he is one of the most in-demand football players.
Let’s Rewind
These football players with odd jobs remind us that footballers are not born into glamorous careers. They fight for every bit of success. Whether they were balancing factory shifts, driving ambulances, fixing roofs, or even acting on screen, each odd job added a layer of grit to their story. And that is what makes their journeys so inspiring.
It is easy to admire their goals and trophies, but knowing where they came from makes their achievements even more meaningful. So the next time you watch your favorite footballer shine on the field, remember that every star has a story, and some begin in the most unexpected places.
About the Author
