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Steve Savidan -
Binman
The journeyman forward took an unconventional route to the top via
stints in several pubs as a barman and topping up his income as a
binman while playing in the lower reaches of French
football.
Proved that determination can
overcome adversity by rescuing his career inspiring Valenciennes to
successive promotions and even earning a cap for France. Was all
set to complete the dream with a fairytale move to glitzy Monaco
last summer before his medical revealed a heart defect and Savidan
was forced to retire aged just 31.
Mat Mitchel King - Body Double
Strutted the catwalk as a model for Armani and was employed as Rio
Ferdinand's official body double for a Nike campaign before signing
pro forms with Crewe Alexandra in the summer. Quipped that he costs
far less than Rio, and he may well be drafted in to cover him again
at United given the club's recent injury crisis.
Roar Strand - Chimney Sweep
The Ryan Giggs of Norway, Strand has clocked up an astonishing 15
league titles with Rosenborg in his trophy-laden career.
Similar to the Welshman, Strand
performed at his best under a strict disciplinarian - Nils Arne
Eggen - who demanded his players to either study or have a second
job away from the game. While many favored the classroom, the
midfielder went down, quite literally, a different route and worked
as a chimney sweep.
Julio Cruz - Gardener
El Jardinero earned his green fingered nickname for working as a
groundskeeper at his local football club in Argentina.
According to legend, he was
asked by the Banfield coach to deputize for an injured player and
made such an impression that he was promptly offered a contract.
The whereabouts of his lawnmower remain unknown but it has been
linked to a recent fight with David Beckham.
Chris Waddle - Sausage Maker
The Geordie dribbler was a sizzler before turning pro, working in a
sausage factory to make ends... ahem, 'meat'. Was a headline dream
in the 80's for writers who predictably branded any good
performances as 'Sizzling' and a shocker as... wait for it...
a 'Banger.'
Waddle rather spoiled things when he revealed years later that
he was responsible for the seasoning and not the little piggies in
the factory. Ah come on Chris, never let the truth get in the way
of a good story!
His England team-mate Stuart
Pearce, meanwhile, trained as an electrician and used the
Nottingham Forest program to advertise his services.
Jose Mourinho - Teacher/Translator
After failing to make it as a player, Mourinho enrolled in business
school but dropped out after one day to study sports science
instead. He became a physical education teacher and coached youth
teams at several schools in Lisbon before he landed the job as
Bobby Robson's translator at Sporting Lisbon in 1992.
The 'Special One' didn't just
have a talent for interpreting and impressed the veteran coach with
his knowledge and tactical insight. When Robson moved to Barcelona
in 1996, Mourinho picked up Catalan and heard his mentor was for
the chop after being encouraged by Bobby to tell him everything
that was being said on the record and off by the Barca
hierarchy.
Sir Alex Ferguson - Apprentice
Tool-Maker/Chef
Fergie's famous no nonsense approach to superstars stems from his
own working class background in the harsh shipyards of
Scotland.
Long before alice bands were
even invented, the amateur player was an apprentice tool-maker in
his native Govan where he slogged away for five years before
eventually turning pro aged 23. As an apprentice, Ferguson showed
some of the leadership skills when he became a trade union
shop-steward and organized an unofficial walk-out for his
colleagues over a pay dispute.
Decades later, the canny Scot
would get his friend George Graham to fax over his lucrative
Arsenal contract so Ferguson could embarrass the Old Trafford
paymasters over his paltry salary which was then miles shy of his
top players.
Fiery chef Gordon Ramsay may
have had some competition in the culinary/shouting department if
Ferguson had pursued his cooking career when he was 30. He donned
an apron and worked the stove for 18-months in a restaurant close
to Hampden Park before deciding to concentrate solely on his
football career.
Moreno Torricelli - Factory Carpenter
Opportunity knocked for the factory carpenter when he stood out for
amateur side Caratese in a pre-season friendly against Juventus in
the summer of 1992.
The Bianconeri's then-coach Giovanni Trapattoni loved his
endeavour and shelled out 20 million lira to bring him to Turin. A
year later he was playing alongside Roberto Baggio when the Old
Lady thumped Borussia Dortmund to win the UEFA Cup. Not a frequent
goalscorer with Juve as he was more fond of the woodwork.
Peter Schmeichel -
Cleaner/Carpet Fitter etc
Turned his hand to a variety of tasks including working for
12-months as a cleaner in a retirement home before he hit the big
time.
The goalkeeper was also an
apprentice carpet fitter, sold advertising for a newspaper and ran
a charity shop for the World Wildlife Fund before joining
Manchester United in 1991. Now fronts 'Dirty Jobs' on the Discovery
Channel.
Grafite - Bin Liner Salesman
Wolfsburg's powerhouse went door to door in his native Sao Paulo
selling bin-liners to support his family.
In a recent interview he said it wasn't an unusual job for the time
and that the experience had taught him a lot of positive things.
Certainly did as he reduced Bayern Munich's defense to rubbish last
season with a superb individual goal.