Five of the most bizarre career switches by former football players

Ste Carson

Former Werder Bremen and Germany player Tim Wiese competing in a WWE eventProfimedia

Professional football players will typically hang up their boots in their late 30s and, quite often, move into coaching roles within the sport.

However, that is not always the case, as you will see. Read below to discover some of the more interesting career switches made by former footballers.

Tim Wiese

Professional wrestler

After hanging up his gloves in 2014, former Werder Bremen and Germany goalkeeper Wiese gained a noticeable amount of muscle mass.

This change in physique seemingly caught the attention of WWE chiefs, who later offered the 6' 4" former stopper a spot on one of their development 'schools'.

Wiese made his debut in a 2016 WWE event in Germany, but left professional wrestling behind a year later in 2017.

Mathieu Flamini

Biochemical entrepreneur

Arsenal fan favourite Flamini, who had two spells with the London club between 2004 and 2016, retired just a few years ago - in 2019.

During his playing years the Frenchman co-founded the first company in the world able to mass-produce levulinic acid.

The company's output aims to offer sustainable alternatives to oil-based products. Forbes estimates Flamini's stake in the company, GFBiochemicals, is worth around £10bn.

Nathan D’Laryea

Secondary school teacher

D’Laryea's change of career is perhaps, more than anything else, symptomatic of just how difficult it is to succeed at the highest levels of professional football in England.

A product of Man City's academy, the former defender didn't find much luck at loans spells with Macclesfield and Rochdale between 2007 and 2009. D’Laryea made the difficult decision to quit the sport in his mid-20s.

He joined semi-pro side Hyde in 2009 and enjoyed a fruitful first season, before picking up an injury and subsequently opting to pursue a career as a six-a-side referee and then secondary school teacher.

The loss of football, it seems, is the education system's gain.

Arjan de Zeeuw

Police detective

De Zeeuw was a bit of a journeyman in English football - representing Barnsley, Wigan, Portsmouth and Coventry before hanging up his boots in 2009.

Immediately upon retiring, the Dutchman began working as an investigative detective in the Netherlands.

In a 2014 interview with the BBC's Late Kick Off North West, De Zeeuw explained that he loves working in forensics for the Alkmaar police.

Petr Cech

Professional ice hockey player

Perhaps the most storied post-football career noted in this list, Cech's decision to swap turf for ice makes more sense the longer you think about it.

It should come as no surprise the Chelsea and Czech legend still plays between the sticks and boasts an impressive record (six clean sheets in 20 matches*).

Cech signed for amateur ice hockey side Guildford Phoenix as a goaltender in 2019 after leaving Arsenal, before making the jump to Chelmsford Chieftains in the English third tier for the start of the current season.