It is often claimed that footballers are a bit one-dimensional, spouting cliches in post-match interviews and promising that they will take things one game at a time. In the modern age, the reality is often completely different. The stars of today also look to the future as the business of football is a short-lived career on the pitch. The actors of the beautiful game increasingly connect with their audience through passions outside of the pitch as they look to secure a comfortable life after the thrill ends. Here are five major stars that have some stellar side hustles already.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The 39-year-old may be the (second) most famous football player on the planet, but the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward has as many interests in business as he does fast cars in his garage. The Portuguese star, who won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid, has enjoyed huge global success with his underwear brand, CR7. He has also invested millions into a luxury and boutique range of hotels in Madeira, Lisbon, Madrid and New York and has had an international airport named after him.
The star’s latest business venture centres around a new fitness app that concentrates on keeping nutrition, and mental and physical health at optimum levels. Ronaldo announced at its launch: “Do you wonder how I keep my life in balance with all the challenges I have? Well, the secret is out.” On the business side, he has many secrets out.
Wilfried Zaha
The former Manchester United and Crystal Palace flier thrilled crowds with his speed and trickery, but he has always riled against the idea that footballers should just stay in their lane. The Ivorian has set up a fashion brand called Long Live with a friend and has a genuine passion for design. The current Galatasaray forward also signed up to an endorsement deal with the global Los Angeles label, 424, and he wants a legacy outside of the sport as the brand “embodies the objective of striving to fulfil your greatest potential.”
Harry Kane
England’s premier striker has had an excellent individual first season in the Bundesliga, although what seemed like a safe football prediction of title glory hasn’t worked out at Bayern. The 30-year-old has an eye for the future though. He runs a lucrative property company called Edward James Investments alongside his brother. In keeping with his supreme fitness toggling between club and country, Kane invested an ‘undisclosed sum” in a low-calorie doughnut company last November.
The striker is showing broader concerns for the planet as he has become co-owner of a sustainable headphones and electronics firm. As the man himself said in an interview with Football365: “You want something that will keep you busy when your career ends because football is not a long career, and you have another half of your life after that to think about.”
Micah Richards
Micah Richards was a Premier League winner with Manchester City and is an ebullient presence across multiple football programmes such as CBS and Sky Sports. Getting work is not a problem for a man with a larger-than-life personality, but the former defender didn’t know that he was going to become a pundit after his career finished.
Behind the raucous laugh and the winner’s medals is also a very savvy brain. Richards had to retire at the age of 31 due to injury although he started a property company at the age of 18, reportedly raking in millions across the north of England. His friends call him ‘Mr Monopoly’. The former England international is certainly streetwise.
Mathieu Flamini
Former Arsenal and AC Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini once claimed that footballers need to come out of their bubble and care about climate change.
While still playing for La Liga side Getafe. the midfielder was recognised in 2018 as one of the 100 most promising business leaders at the World Economic Forum’s community of Young Global Leaders.
The articulate Frenchman is a co-founder of GF Biochemicals, a company that works with multinationals to produce a sustainable oil substitute across plastics solvents and petrochemical industries. Forbes claimed that the former footballer’s stake in the company is worth an eye-watering $10 billion.
On the theme of saving the planet, Flamini also joined up with another ex-Gunner, Mesut Ozil, to launch Unity, a health and wellness brand that has a positive impact on people’s lifestyles as well as respecting the environment.
Ultimately, many of the game’s best-known players can generate income elsewhere because of their personal brand. There are also those who genuinely have a passion for what they are doing well before they kick their final ball. Side hustles can become second careers after soccer ends.