Premier League footballers earn staggering salaries and face gruelling schedules, yet some still find time for unusual pursuits. From writing children's books to mastering martial arts, these players have hobbies that go far beyond golf and nightclubs.
Writers and Musicians
Theo Walcott, known for his pace on the pitch, is also a published children's author. His TJ series, about a child football prodigy, was released in 2010 and received critical praise, with The Guardian calling the books "surprisingly good". Walcott has not written since, focusing instead on punditry.
Petr Cech, the former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper, is a skilled drummer. He frequently posts videos on YouTube, playing along to tracks by artists like Nirvana and Rihanna. Beyond music, Cech also plays ice hockey as a goaltender for Haringey Huskies and has represented teams in Guildford, Chelmsford, Oxford, and Belfast.
Artists and Martial Artists
Daniel Agger, the ex-Liverpool defender, has turned his passion for tattoos into a career. He runs his own tattoo business, Tattoodo, and sports "YNWA" in red on his knuckles as a tribute to Liverpool's anthem. Agger retired at 31 and has since focused on his tattoo empire.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds a black belt in taekwondo, achieved by age 17. During his time at Juventus, he trained with Italy's national taekwondo squad. Some credit his martial arts agility for his sensational overhead kick against England in 2012.
Equestrian and Aviation
Gabriel Batistuta took up polo after retiring from football in 2005. He won the Copa Stella Artois in 2009 with the Tom Tailor team. Injuries forced him to stop playing polo, and he has since moved into construction and occasional punditry.
Les Ferdinand, the former Tottenham striker, learned to fly helicopters to avoid traffic jams. He conquered his fear of flying and completed a two-year helicopter course, even considering commercial flights, but ultimately kept flying as a personal hobby.
Musical Talents
Mario Balotelli, now playing in the UAE with Al-Ittifaq, is a skilled pianist. His talent came to light in a video of him playing for teammate Andrea Pirlo.
Andrea Pirlo owns a family vineyard in Brescia, producing 15,000 to 20,000 bottles annually. Since retiring in 2017, he has promoted his wine collection, Pratum Coller, which is available worldwide.
