Football can be a stressful profession so having some hobbies is a great way to blow off some steam
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While it is the dream job of many people around the world, playing football professionally can be a stressful vocation. The pressure to perform well in front of tens of thousands of spectators and millions more than watch on TV will get to even the most mentally strong.
To help blow off some steam and channel their energies, many footballers have hobbies that they enjoy spending time on when they’re not competing, training, or taking part in media events.
Some hobbies are more unusual than others. For example, Manchester United’s defender, Axel Tuanzebe, is a fan of the board game Hungry Hungry Hippos. In fact, he holds an official Guinness World Record for the fastest time to clear a game, doing so in just 17.36 seconds.
While there are many other quirky hobbies that are enjoyed by footballers, here are some of the most popular.
Cooking
Most professional athletes, including footballers, spend a lot of money on having professional dietitians work with them day in day out to give them the right balance of nutrients that can make them perform at their peak.
This usually includes special meals ahead of a big game to give them all the energy they need for 90 minutes of football.
But some footballers like to spend time in the kitchen themselves too. Of course, their obsession with nutrition likely contributes to this, but the mundane, mechanical work involved in preparing and cooking food is what many footballers enjoy.
Big-name footballers that are a dab hand in the kitchen include Kevin De Bruyne, who enjoys baking cakes; Virgil Van Dijk, used to work in a restaurant and still enjoys cooking today; and
Paul Pogba, who is a fan of frying meats and rustling up Italian dishes.
Playing Cards
Casinos and card rooms are common places to see footballers, especially if you’re in a city like London or Manchester. For example, former Manchester United player and current Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has been spotted numerous times playing card games in the VIP sections of Manchester’s casinos.
Poker seems to be the most popular card game among footballing elites though, with many current players and former players like Jan Vang Sørensen and Teddy Sherringham all regularly taking part in games and tournaments. Although they have plenty of options to choose from, most prefer Texas hold'em,
a community variant that requires players to make hands with a combination of their own “hole cards” and five “community cards” that are placed face-up on the table.
Since many footballers are well paid, there are few limits on what pastimes they can pursue
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Horses
Horses are an expensive pet to look after, with the average cost of keeping one for a year being around £2,700, but can cost significantly more if you plan to enter competitions. That’s also in addition to the cost of the horse itself, which can easily set you back the best part of £10,000.
With their large salaries, footballers are in a prime position to keep horses. Many also use their wealth to invest in racehorses in the hopes of turning a profit. Dozens of famous names have gold involved in this, including former Arsenal player, Ian Wright and the retired manager of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Michael Owen, the former Liverpool striker is one of these. He’s built
a large stable in Cheshire where many racehorses are trained by Tom Dascombe. Owen is often seen at race events and gets very emotional when his horses win.
Video Gaming
Video gaming is a popular hobby among millions of people around the world, especially younger men. It should come as no surprises then that many professional footballers enjoy playing video games.
Neymar can often be seen playing titles like Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, and Pro Evolution Soccer. Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard are also known to enjoy playing video games to wind down after a football match.