From Football to Thunderball

Famous faces who could have made a career in football.

Becoming a professional footballer is the dream occupation for millions of people all over the world, the glory, the fame, and everything else that goes with the beautiful game is what captivates an individual from a young age. 

For most people it's a fantasy and we reach a certain age where reality kicks in and we go about our lives, others get close, scouts come to watch their school team, trials at professional clubs, even making the odd appearance for the youth team before fading back into society.

But what about those who came close to achieving the dream, failed, but went on to become well known or in some cases, household names regardless? 

The celebrity world is littered with footballs nearly men, actors, musicians, TV personalities and people who excelled at a different sports. Why did they turn their backs on football? Did they love their chosen occupation more or did they just not quite make the grade?

Legendary Scottish actor Sean Connery is best known for his portrayal has secret agent James Bond and won admirers for his cool, calm, and slick screen presence, not to mention his velvet highland tone.

Connery has won numerous awards for what he has brought to the big screen, BAFTAS, Academy Awards and Golden Globes all line his mantel piece but had he took a different career path in his early twenties, those awards could have been replaced by a League, FA Cup or even European Cup winners medal. After playing for Scottish junior club Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic he was offered a trial at league side East Fife which was unsuccessful.

He took up acting and after touring with the stage version of the Rogers & Hammerstein musical South Pacific, Connery was having a friendly game of football with the rest of the cast against a team of local workers. 

The game had gathered quite a crowd and in amongst the faces was then Manchester United manager (Sir) Matt Busby. Reports suggest that revolutionary manager was impressed by the strength of Connery whom he offered a contract on the spot.

Connery was more than tempted to take Busby up on his offer to join the club and play with the likes of Duncan Edwards and Dennis Violet, the superstars of the day but he declined. Connery says that “I realised a top class footballer could be over the hill by the age of 30, I was already 23”. He continues “I decided to become an actor and it turned out to be one of my more intelligent moves”. Legions of Bond fans who saw Connery effortlessly play 007 in iconic films such as ‘Dr. No’, ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘Thunderball’ would definitely agree.

For the fans of Yorkshire giants Leeds United names such as Bremner, Charlton, McAllister, Speed and Radabe will always bring back fond memories of former glories and a reminder of the heights the club had once reached. 

One name that may also be known to large sections of the “Lillywhites” faithful is that of Nicky Byrne (pictured second from left) the blonde haired Dubliner who sang his way to the top with record breaking Irish boy band Westlife.

But things could have been very different for Byrne. He was a keen footballer, a goalkeeper at that and whilst playing for St.Kevins Boys club in Dublin he was offered the chance that all young Irish footballers dream of, a trial at a professional club in England, and what a trial, one of the country’s biggest and proudest came calling for the 16 year old ‘keeper.

Just two short years later Byrne was part of a Leeds Youth Cup winning team that included future Premier League stars and full internationals Paul Robinson, Jonathan Woodgate, Harry Kewell and Alan Smith.

 Byrne had also represented his country at under 15, 16 and 18 levels. Later that year Byrne received some news that would ultimately change his life, Leeds United informed him that they would not be renewing his contract and that he was free to leave the club.They cited his small physique as the primary reason. 

After having spells at Irish league clubs Shelbourne and Cobh Ramblers Byrne decided to attend an audition for a new boy band in the Take That and Boyzone model, whilst there, he was spotted by the latter’s manager, a certain Louis Walsh.

Byrne joined the band and went to achieve 25 top ten singles in the UK chart, 14 number ones and had 7 number one albums which generated over 45 million worldwide sales, not bad for a Leeds United reject. Despite not achieving his initial dream of becoming a footballer, Byrne is more than content with career he has had instead, he says that “Looking back, I don’t think I’d change anything” “but if it was possible to be a footballer and pop star, I’d happily do both” he joked, wouldn’t we all Nicky.

Michelin starred TV chef Gordon Ramsey may be known for his spicy meatballs but could well have been known for kicking footballs had a cruciate ligament injury not called time on has fledgling career. 

Ramsey’s football career has been shrouded in mystery and intrigue due to some inaccuracies in the chefs re-telling of his time at Glasgow Rangers.

Ramsey claimed to have played three first team games for the Scottish club but it has been later revealed that he played in a testimonial match as a trialist before succumbing to injuries, first in training then aggravating a pre-existing cruciate injury during a game of squash.“Perhaps I was doomed when it came to football” Ramsey once remarked. 

Despite the doubt over the reliability of Ramsey’s claims there is evidence that he donned the famous blue(middle row far left) and is remembered fondly by ‘Gers and Scotland legend Ally McCoist “I remember him well and the one thing that will never ever change is that he’s a competitive so-and-so and wants to do and be the best he can”.

After enrolling at North Oxfordshire Technical College to study Hotel Management he worked as a commis chef at the Roxburgh Hotel in south east Scotland then made the move to London to work at Harvey’s for temperamental chef Marco Pierre-White.

After serving his apprenticeship, Ramsey opened his own Restaurant in Chelsea, the imaginatively named ‘Restaurant Gordon Ramsey’. He achieved three Michelin Stars and a place amongst the elite restaurateurs in the world. As well as having a series of top restaurants around the globe, the chef is also known for his various televisions appearances and programmes such as’ Kitchen Nightmares’ and ‘The F Word, he has also taken the former State side where it premiered on the FOX Network in 2007 and has had positive feedback since.

 TV critic Jane Redfern said “Listen and think about what he is saying and his genuine commitment to his profession in general and the task at hand become abundantly clear”. Ramsey as certainly carved out a long and successful career for himself and he cites his experiences whilst at Rangers as a defining period in his life “Without the upset at Ibrox (the home stadium of Glasgow Rangers) I would not be the chef I am today”.

Other notable could-have-beens include tenor Luciano Pavarotti who was aid to be a tricky winger and accomplished goalkeeper in his day, even having a trial at Italian club Modena which of course proved unsuccessful but ‘Calcios’ loss was music’s gain as Pavarotti went onto to be the most commercially successful tenors of all time as well as being revered by his peers. 

Another singer who graced the football field was the raspy voiced Rod Stewart who was on the books of West London’s Brentford FC where he would be made clean the first team players boots but confesses that his heart wasn’t really into football at the time “I was on trial there (Brentford) around the same time I was getting into music” he said I wasn’t really dedicated to it, I think I love it more now than then”, Stewart went on to have hits with The Jeff Beck Group, Faces and more prominently has a solo performer.

For most people being gifted at one sport is quite satisfying, but not for Spanish star Rafael Nadal, as a youngster ‘Rafa’ was very much into both tennis and football, his uncle Miguel Angel played for R.C.D Mallorca, Barcalona and for the Spanish national team, he also had another uncle Toni who was a professional tennis player and the young Rafael was clearly inspired by, and had a talent, for both.

Nadal first picked up a racket when he was three and has won his first championships by twelve, his father wanted him to choose either tennis or football so his school work wouldn’t suffer, and Rafael agreed “I chose Tennis. Football had to stop straight away” he said. Nadal has won eleven major championships since 2005 and is regarded as one of the greatest players ever to have played the game, an incredible feat considering the era in which he is playing is widely regarded as a stellar time for the sport with the likes of the Spaniard, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray all competing.

In some of these examples the person as chosen a particular path and, instead of continuing with football they followed their other passion, be it music,acting or a different sport. Some have been knocked back to due to their size, or a recurring injury and they haven’t let that affect them and have gone on to be arguably more successful in their chosen field than they ever would have been in football. So whilst becoming a professional player is a dream for a lot of people, those who don’t make can excel in some other industry and the disappointments they faced in the past have helped mould the person they are today.