Being a great footballer is a talent in its own right, however, it seem that there are numerous players that have other hobbies where they can express their talent. We don’t always think about what footballers do when they are not training or playing, but in this article I will go through players who are more than just footballers.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Taekwondo
Zlatan is a warrior on the pitch and he brings fear to his opponents. The reason for Zlatan’s large physical stature is not only from his time playing football but also from his time participating in taekwondo. Despite the major differences between the two sports it does make sense that Zlatan specialises in taekwondo. Zlatan has scored some of the most beautiful goals in the history of football and his movements on the pitch are nearly impossible to replicate. He uses his entire body and kicks the ball in a way that few footballers can. It is clear that he has brought what he has learned from taekwondo to football. Only at the age of 17, Zlatan received a black belt in the Asian sport.
Petr Cech - Drumming
It seems that the Arsenal goalkeeper’s hands were created by some kind of demigod because not only is he one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the Premier League but he is also a fantastic drummer. According to a DailyMail report, Cech believes that playing drums has made him a better goalkeeper. On the same report it is said that Cech was inspired to start drumming after playing the popular Playstation game, Rockband, with the former Chelsea keeper, Carlo Cudicini. “I was always listening to music but I realised that actively participating in the song you enjoy listening to was even better” said Cech about his interest in drums and music (DailyMail). You can find multiple videos on YouTube of the 35-year old tall man cover many of the most popular songs in pop culture.
Here below is a clip of the Champions League winner playing Nirvana’s biggest hit, Smells like Teen Spirit, on drums: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTkPBF6-tIk
Daniel Agger - Tattoo artist
It is correct to call The Danish Liverpool legend a tattoo “artist” because he is a fully qualified tattoo artist the same way he was a fully qualified defender. He has Liverpool’s motto, YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone), inked on his knuckles. This is what Agger said about his decision to get his knuckle tattoo: "I'd thought about it for a long time. As I said, I feel a part of this club - and I feel a part of this city. I have been here so long now, so it was an easy decision (LiverpoolFC.com). Agger, like Zlatan, is also heavily tattooed all over his body. He offered to ink the Liverpool players for free if they would win the league (an achievement Agger never accomplished with Liverpool). Agger is a true Liverpool fan and we will most likely see some more interesting tattoos of him in the future.
Clint Dempsey - Rapping
The American superstar has not only made it in England as a footballer but he is also a rapper who goes under the name “Deuce”. According to an article by Noisy, the origin of Dempsey’s rap career can be traced back in 2006, shortly before the World Cup. In the US nobody really cared about soccer so Nike had an idea to create some hype and excitement for the tournament by making a rap video with USA’s star player - Clint Dempsey. Dempsey, like many Americans, is a big hip-hop fan and you can feel his passion when he expresses himself through the music genre. Nike’s attempt to spark some interest in the US for the beautiful game was definitely creative and different but it is difficult to measure the impact the video had in terms of creating a hype for football in the US. Football’s popularity in the US is growing but it is still has a long way to go to become a beloved sport in America.
Conclusion
It is clear that there are many footballers who have other interesting talents and hobbies. There is nothing wrong with being a fantastic footballer but it is, presumably, good to take a break from football and do something else you love. Zlatan, Cech, Agger and Dempsey are footballers who we will most likely see more of in the future.
Main source: http://www.90min.in/posts/5321769-10-football-players-and-their-hidden-talents/5-petr-cech-drums
Post by: Ólafur Hálfdan Pálsson
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