Nowadays, football is one of the most profitable activities. Being a professional player, in some countries, it should be remembered, is even synonymous with success or even wealth. A success therefore leading to a wealth which, if not well managed, risks ending in a fiasco, a football career being indeed quite short. Conversion thus remains a delicate stage in the post-football period. Some have not only been able to find another activity, but it also allows them to raise more money. More than football really? Yes and we will even quote ten to you. Here are the 10 footballers who got even richer once they hung up their boots, with even a golden ball in the list …
It is often said that professional footballers were born under a lucky star. Practicing what you love the most to earn a nice jackpot is not for everyone, alas. While it is known, however, that during a footballing career the possibility of having a fortune is higher, there are some who have managed to be even richer after retirement.
Michael owen
With great potential, his hatching took place during the France 98 World Cup. In the round of 16 against Argentina at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, Michael Owen received an opening from David Beckham in the 16th minute of play. The English number 10 overwhelms Chamot, mystifies Ayala before beating Roa with disarming lucidity (1-2, 16th). At 19, he suddenly revealed himself to the world. The match will end with an Argentine victory on penalties after a draw of 2 goals everywhere. Winner of the Ballon d’Or with Liverpool in 2001, Owen has played for Real Madrid and Manchester United. Owen therefore had a fairly lucrative career. Once that run was over, he turned to horse racing and it paid off even more.
Dexter Blackstock
Blackstock has not had a glorious career. During this period, he played in 7 different clubs in 14 years, or one club every 2 years. This former striker is also unique in that he only played in England. But it was his decision to invest in real estate that prepared him for post-football success. It has more than 50 houses. However, his current project comes in the world of pharmaceuticals where, after the investment of Michail Antonio and Henri Lansbury, he became the CEO of his own blockchain medical platform.
Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm is arguably THE first female football superstar. The American shined above all in the national team, winning two gold and one silver medals, as well as two world cups. She also scored 158 goals in 275 caps with the States. Despite this, she collected very little money from her profession. During her career, she managed to acquire a fortune of 10 million dollars thanks to contracts of large companies such as Pepsi, Nike and Gatorade. She was making “only” $ 100,000 per season. Machismo eh ?! Hamm has continued to use her influence since hanging up the boots. She became a member of the AS Roma Board of Directors in 2015 and co-owner of Los Angeles Football Club a year earlier.
Louis saha
A successful Premier League striker with Manchester United and Everton, Louis Saha played for France, even reaching the 2006 World Cup final, losing to Italy on penalties (5-3). He was also smart in business. Saha’s company AxisStars ’allows players and brands to partner and evaluate their experience. The now 41-year-old former player came up with the idea of getting into this business after his retirement in 2013. And although most of his clientele are footballers, he has also been able to get into other areas. sports. Clever Loulou!
Asamoah Gyan
Assamoah Gyan had the best hours for the Ghanaian football team. He is also the African who has played the most in World Cup matches with the most goals. His run, however, was marked by a missed penalty in the 2010 South Africa World Cup quarter-finals against Uruguay. In the closing seconds of the match, when the two teams are tied for 1 everywhere, Gyan has the opportunity to send for the first time an African Nation to the semi-final of the World Cup, on African soil too! Unfortunately, his attempt bumps into Muslera’s post. The Black Stars will ultimately be eliminated from the penalty shootout competition. A tour of wealthy clubs has certainly boosted his bank balance. The Black Star owns a range of businesses often prefixed “BabyJet”, in a number of areas such as: boxing promotion, buses, planes, real estate, bottled water, rice and noodles, gas stations as well as funding for Ghanaian music stars. Giant Asamoah!
Sun Jihai
He is the first Chinese player and the country’s Premier League scorer. The former Manchester City player started his own business which was backed by China Media Capital, a private equity firm valued at over $ 60 billion, and just three years after starting the business, the company de Jihai has 400 million users in China, the seven largest populations in Europe combined.
Robbie fowler
Fowler, who scored 183 goals for Liverpool, is still in the football world as coach of Brisbane Roar. But he made careful investments, following in Owen’s footsteps with a foray into horse racing alongside Steve McManaman, another ex-Liverpool. He has owned a sports promotion business since the 1990s.
Ramon vega
Since Ramon Vega’s retirement at just 31 in 2003, he has grown from a meager 15,000 a week to over £ 20million. The former Tottenham player went on to found his private equity and asset management firm and controlled around £ 650million of client funds, prompting him to try to buy Portsmouth in 2009 and even to consider running for the presidency of FIFA in 2015.
Thomas Gravesen
Former Real Madrid player Gravesen was even more fortunate to give up football to become a Las Vegas high-roller. The Dane moved to Sin City after ending his career at 32 and after making wise financial investments, he is said to be worth £ 100million of which he may have lost half in a single game of poker. His healthy bank account meant he lived alongside tennis legend Andre Agassi before eventually returning to Denmark to work as a television specialist.
Mathieu Flamini
Former midfielder Mathieu Flamini who shone with Arsenal and AC Milan has joined the biochemical industry with GF Biochemicals. Alongside his business partner Pasquale Granata, the Frenchman has made his company, estimated at $ 28 billion, the industry leader in the production of levulinic acid, a fuel based on plant waste that can be used for creation of plastics. When we tell you that there are no stupid professions …