Nowadays, footballers are considered a form of celebrity, with millions of social media followers and sponsorship deals with some of the biggest brands in the world. It’s become very common to see footballers embark on new business ventures post retirement, whether it is an alternative sport, TV presenting or even joining the live casino industry, there are plenty of examples of players changing their career paths. But what isn’t as noticeable are celebrities who could have been professional footballers.
So, let’s take a look at some celebrities who could have made it as a professional footballer.
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay is famous across the globe for his second-to-none culinary skills, explosive personality, and extremely entertaining hosting abilities. Ramsay has restaurants and shows all around the world, with fans on every corner of the globe, but what is less known about the famous chef is that his original career path was to become a professional footballer. As a youth, he expressed his love and adoration for the sport and managed to play for local club Oxford United before he was scouted by Glasgow Rangers.
The opportunity for Ramsay to play for Rangers was too big for his family to miss, as they chose to move to Scotland and help pursue his dreams in the youth team. Unfortunately, Ramsay was unable to make any senior appearances as his career was cut short by a knee injury, forcing him to retire at 22 and pursue a new passion for cooking.
Bradley Walsh
One of the most iconic figures of British television may never have been if he had fulfilled his career as a professional footballer. Bradley Walsh is a massive figure, especially in the UK, hosting a wide variety of TV shows, most notably ‘The Chase.’ Walsh has spoken openly about his potential football career and his love for the sport. Still, many people aren’t aware that he could have been a professional player, rather than a TV personality.
Walsh was a part of the Brentford youth setup despite making limited appearances for the club. His most notable spell as a footballer was his loan from Brentford to lower league Barnet, where he would spend the 1979/80 campaign, in which Barnet had the opportunity to play against the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham. Unfortunately, Walsh’s career was cut short at the age of 21 due to not being able to recover from a fractured ankle injury. Walsh was forced to take up other career paths and is now one of the biggest names in UK television.
Olly Murs
Olly Murs shot to fame after his successful 2009 X-Factor campaign, finishing runner-up in the final of the series. Despite not winning the show, Murs went on to have an extremely successful career in music. Murs sold out stadiums across the world, released many BRIT-nominated singles and was even a supporting act on tour with One Direction, JLS and Robbie Williams. Olly Murs’s love for football is shown through his dedication to play in Soccer Aid, being a dominant figure in the England XI, which could be down to the fact that Olly Murs could have had the opportunity to make it as a professional.
Murs played for semi-professional side Witham Town from 2006 to 2009 in the Isthmian Division One. Who knows what would’ve happened if Murs had continued football? Recently, Murs has focused on a presenting career, rather than music, but does still perform and show his determination to support UNICEF through his efforts at Soccer Aid.
Rod Stewart
Sir Rod Stewart is regarded as one of the best singers and performers of all time, even receiving a Knighthood for his efforts in the industry. The global icon has released plenty of recognisable songs and helped shape the industry that we know today. But what isn’t too commonly known about Sir Rod Stewart is his love for football and that he almost might never have been a performer.
As a child, Stewart and his father both shared a passion for football, developing his ambition to make it as a professional. Playing football as a kid was one of Rod Stewart’s passions, which eventually led to him being offered a trial at local club Brentford. The dream to play for Brentford, however, was cut short when he was unsuccessful in his trial, forcing Stewart to take up other hobbies and leading him to pursue music.
Matt Smith
Most known for his role in Doctor Who as the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith has gained a reputation as one of the biggest actors in the UK, presenting and appearing in plenty of TV shows and movies. But it isn’t common knowledge that Matt Smith could have had a very positive career as a professional footballer.
As a youth, Smith had a very promising career in football, with his talent recognised by many top teams, including Northampton Town, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City. Unfortunately, his career was brought to a sudden end at the age of only 16 due to a back injury that resulted in Smith being unable to continue playing.
