Turning down the opportunity to be a professional soccer player is something most people can only dream of doing, but there are a select few who get to do just that. Crazy, right? Sometimes it is due to injury, other times it is to head down a more opportunistic career path.
Here we take a lot of some top celebs that chose an alternate direction, leaving their pro soccer playing days in the past. Most still show an extreme passion for the game, finding ways to stay involved on the soccer scene. And they have proven that their chosen path was the right one, through their own respective success.
This is a list of 10 Celebs Who Nearly Became Professional Soccer Players.
Bryan Byrne is the founder of SoccerCleats101. Got a question about boots? Hit up Bryan on Twitter.
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Borris Becker
Club involved: Bayern Munich
Claim: Trained in the Bayern Munich youth system.
During his youth, Borris Becker excelled in both soccer and tennis. So much so that German club Bayern Munich offered him the opportunity to train in their development system. But he made the bold decided to concentrate on tennis at the ripe age of 12 and soccer was pushed to the side. In hindsight, that was probably a wise decision as only five years later, he became the youngest male champion in Wimbledon history!
Becker remains a big soccer fan and can regularly be spotted in his home country sitting in the stands, watching games.
Gordon Ramsey
Club involved: Rangers FC
Claim: Played with top European side Rangers, before getting injured.
We all know Gordon Ramsey as the angry chef that likes to criticize everything about every restaurant he ever visits. But did you know he created an impressive rumor about playing professional soccer? Ramsay stated on several occasions that he was a member of the first team squad for Rangers FC in Scotland. His statements went as far as saying that he had played three games for the Glasgow club, before injury cut short his career.
But after historians and former players at the club dismissed the claims, Ramsey embarrassingly confessed that his memories may be hazy! We can give him a break on this one considering he did probably play in some reserve team games, with the role of angry chef in front of millions of TV fans creating some confusion.
Rod Stewart
Club involved: Brentford FC
Claim: Trials with London club Brentford FC, but chose music instead.
If you have lived in Los Angeles and play soccer, you are likely to have played against music legend Rod Stewart at some point. A true fan of the game and Celtic FC, Stewart once came close to becoming a pro player when he had trials with London club Brentford FC. This was prior to his decision to embark on a full-time music career. I for one am glad he chose a music career – where would we be without that rustic voice?
Side note, Stewart is currently in the midst of a legal case for breaking a fan’s nose after drilling a soccer ball into the audience during a 2012 show in Vegas. His defense; the guy should have had his eyes open!
Julio Iglesias
Club involved: Real Madrid
Claim: Goalkeeper for Real Madrid before injury ended his career.
Known for his ability to sweep women off their feet with his legendary mellow, smooth, romantic singing voice, Julio Iglesias once spent time as goalkeeper for Real Madrid soccer team. It was during his time attending law school in Madrid in the early sixties, but sadly his career was cut short after a car accident.
It was during his recovery that Iglesias picked up a guitar. While in the hospital, a nurse handed him a guitar, and Iglesias began writing songs. The rest, as they say, is history!
Louis Tomlinson
Club involved: Doncaster Rovers
Claim: Signed on a non-contract for a pro team, playing with the reserves.
A player that regularly appears in charity soccer matches is singer Louis Tomlinson of boy band One Direction. He has skills and could have pursued a career playing the beautiful game. Even though music became his calling, he was signed by his boyhood club and English Championship side Doncaster Rovers on a non-contract in august 2013. It was a complete marketing ploy, but one that allows him to add the title “former pro soccer player” on his resume and he even got to play in a reserve team game.
In June 2014, Tomlinson was part of a takeover of the club, but it was unsuccessful as the deal collapsed over a lack of Football League approval.
Chad Ochocinco
Club involved: Sporting Kansas City
Claim: Trained with Sporting KC during the 2011 NFL lockout.
During the NFL lockout of 2011, Chad Ochocinco decided he would take his skills to another type of football, the one with the round ball this time. The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver hadn’t played organized soccer since the 10th grade, yet he found himself training with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer as he looked to earn a temporary roster spot.
Even though he did get to play in some scrimmage games, his speed an athletic build were not enough for him to earn a contract.
Steve Nash
Club involved: Canada (national team)
Claim: Chose college basketball instead of Canadian international call-up.
Steve Nash is one of those people that could easily be considered “the most interesting person in the world.” Born in South Africa, he spent most of his youth moving from place to place as his father, John, played professional soccer. It came as no surprise that Steve developed into a talented soccer player after his family moved to Canada. So much so, that a spot on the Canadian national team was his for the taking but Nash decided to take another career route.
Basketball was his calling, and although LA Laker fans might not be very impressed with him right now, he has had an incredible career as one of the best “playmakers” to ever play the game. He still plays in charity soccer games and has the smooth silky skills you would expect him to have!
Robbie Williams
Club involved: Port Vale FC
Claim: No real chance, but he has been influential within the game.
In terms of actual skill, Robbie Williams has the least of all players on this list. In fact, he really never had a chance to make it as a pro player. But, he has played an even more important role within the game. Williams, with the help of friend Jonathan Wilkes, created “Soccer Aid”, a huge charity soccer game that raises money for UNICEF UK. A mixture of celebrities and professional football players play in Soccer Aid matches, with games played at famous Wembley Stadium in London.
He has an affinity for Port Vale FC and if you have played soccer in Los Angeles, you are likely to have seen him running the left back spot in some games!
Olly Murs
Club involved: Witham Town
Claim: Played lower league before choosing a music career.
Another singer who had his soccer career cut short by injury is Olly Murs. Having played semi-professionally for Isthmian Division One North side Witham Town between 2006 and 2008, Murs had the potential to move up in the game. During the 2006/07 season, he scored an impressive 12 goals in 13 appearances, so there was no doubting that he had talent.
Ultimately, he chose the music industry as his platform, although he has stayed involved in the soccer scene. In June 2014, Murs along with Rio Ferdinand hosted World Cup's 50 Greatest Moments during the run up to the World Cup 2014.
