Paul Miller, the former Tottenham defender known for his tough-tackling style, has built a second career in the City of London after retiring from football at 32. Now 66, he has worked in insurance, private banking and financial services before taking up a new role with CMC Markets - Everton's front-of-shirt sponsors - earlier this year.
Miller spent a decade at Spurs between 1977 and 1987, playing more than 280 games and winning two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup. Despite his success, he chose not to follow the usual path into coaching after hanging up his boots.
A Second Career in the City
Miller left school at 15 without qualifications, but he later re-educated himself. "I'd left school at 15 without any qualifications but by the time I'd finished playing at 32, I didn't want to stay in the game any longer doing coaching and I felt I had a lot more to offer," he told the Liverpool Echo.
After retiring, he entered the insurance industry and became a Lloyd's broker before moving into private banking, working for three different banks. He grew up in east London, just half a mile from the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, and had always been fascinated by the City.
From White Hart Lane to CMC Markets
His latest career move came through a long-standing friendship with CMC Markets founder Baron Peter Cruddas. Miller met the self-made billionaire around 26 years ago at a Save the Children event at Buckingham Palace. Despite Cruddas supporting rival north London club Arsenal, he became the catalyst for Miller's latest chapter.
When CMC Markets agreed its sponsorship deal with Everton, Miller contacted his old friend and asked whether there might be an opportunity for him at the company. Within a month, he had joined.
Miller now starts work at around 7.30am and believes having a purpose and continuing to work can be hugely beneficial later in life. "I think it keeps you young when you're working," he said.
Advice for Modern Players
His career has given him a strong view on how professional footballers should prepare for life after the game. While modern players earn vastly more than Miller did during the 1970s and 1980s, he believes financial security alone is not enough.
"Life doesn't stop after you play football, it's just starting and you're still a young man," he said. "I started playing football at seven years old and had to finish when I was 32 through an injury. Not many carry on too long after that age and you've got to find a new purpose."
Miller remains a regular at Tottenham and continues to follow the game closely, combining his two worlds - football and finance - in a career few former players could have imagined when he was battling Premier League strikers four decades ago.
