Making it in football is difficult enough on its own. But, some players have managed to not only deliver on the pitch, but have also diversified their income streams by setting up businesses. Here are the top ten players that have achieved success on both fronts:
10. Kai Heerings
Heerings has featured for clubs like Northeast United in India, and is a legend at MVV Maastricht. He, along with his brother in law, have developed JZ Design Game Case which is a an easy to carry monitor and gaming console case. His clients include Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Lewis Hamilton.
9. Andres Iniesta
Iniesta still plays football in Japan and has several years left on his contract. However, he inherited Bodega Iniesta from his parents and is an investor for FirstVision, a camera technology that is embedded in the shirts of pro players.
8. Gerard Pique
Pique is a Barcelona legend and has won everything there is to win playing for club and country. He owns FC Andorra playing in the third division of Spain and also has a holding company called Kosmos Global Holdings.
7. Andrea Pirlo
Like Iniesta, Pirlo is not only one of the most respected midfielders in the history of football but is also a successful vineyard owner. He sells about 15-20 thousand bottles a year and is doing great business following life after football.
6. Ryan Bertrand
Bertrand recently signed for Leicester City and was part of the Chelsea team that won the Champions League in 2012. He founded the fintech brokerage firm called Silicon Markets with his friends Louis Bell and Mathew Kirkham in 2015. The Company is aiming to revolutionize retail trading
5. Louis Saha
The former Manchester United striker is the founder of Axis Star, a financial advisory company that helps out sports persons primarily. His company gives advice to athlete about physios, sponsorship and lifestyle.
4. Oliver Kahn
Aside from being a football legend and being the CEO of Bayern Munich, Kahn is also the founder of Goalplay, a company that offers coaching services and also sells goalkeeping gloves and bags, staying true to its founder.
3. David Villa
Villa is part of an asset management company called KraneShares and his company bought a football team called Queensboro FC in the USA. The team is set to make the USL Championship debut in 2022. Alongside being the founder of DV7, he is also the director of Global Football Operations for Odisha FC in the ISL.
2. David Beckham
Beckham was one of the best on the field and has achieved the same status in the business as well. He owns DB Ventures Limited with his wife, Victoria Beckham and also owns Inter Miami FC and Salford City FC.
1. Mathieu Flamini
Flamini featured for Arsenal, Marseille and AC Milan during his playing days. After a 16-year long career, he has founded GF Biochemicals. His is the first company to mass produce levulinic acid, a biofriendly industry substitute for several companies. Flamini also launched Unity with Mesut Ozil, which is a wellness brand focusing on sustainable packaging.
