Footballers who work outside the green rectangle

In this report, read the story of footballers who were sweepers, builders, building painters and plumbing apprentices at the same time as the game.

spiritual dew; The presence of football players who are busy with other jobs to generate income outside the green rectangle has always been attractive to the audience. Some of these footballers were plumbers, garbage collectors and factory workers, and many of them still are.

Neil Kangani; A toolbox and a hit that was about to make history

On January 10, 2021, Marin of the eighth division hosted Tottenham in the third round of the English FA Cup. In the first half and when the game was still scoreless, Kangani shot from a distance. The ball went past Joe Hart but hit the crossbar. Tottenham finally won 5-0; However, that shot became one of the memorable scenes of the match. Kangani was 20 years old at that time. He previously played in Rochdale's grassroots ranks and after that stint, he made his way to football outside of the major professional leagues. In an interview with Teamside Correspondent, he explained that he worked during the day and trained two nights a week. Learning plumbing was also a way for him to have a career for the future. In the life of such a player, training time must be balanced with working hours. Kangani still hoped to return to full-time football, but until then, he was serious about learning a technical skill. This part of his story is important: having a second job did not mean giving up his football ambitions. He was both trying to get better at football and preparing for a future where his main income might not be from the pitch.

James Barrigan; Liverpool's sweeper in the lineup against Tottenham

Kangani wasn't the only Marin player with a career outside of football. His team-mate James Barrigan was working as a waste collection worker in Liverpool during the same period. In its report on 8 January 2021, two days before the match, ITV introduced Barrigan as a player who was a sweeper during the week and played for Marin at the weekend. That report emphasized that team members were juggling football commitments with their full-time jobs. Barrigan also talked about the surprise of facing an opponent from the Premier League. He was included in the starting line-up of Marin against Tottenham. His name was recorded in the club's official match report, along with the players who played against Jose Mourinho's team that day. The match was a rare opportunity for Marin, but the difference between the two teams was not only in rank and technical ability. On one side, there were players whose job was football; On the other hand, those who had to keep their daily jobs to continue playing. Barigan is a clear example of this double life. The club shirt was a part of his identity and the job of civil service was another part. To recognize such a player, goal statistics and number of games are not enough; It should be known how his day was spent when there was no competition.

Kenny Strickland and Josh Davis; From the building and the railway to the ground

Kenny Strickland, a player with a history of playing in the basic ranks of Manchester United, was a painter and decorator of the building at that time. Josh Davis also worked in executive jobs related to railroads. In the same team, there were players with other jobs such as teachers and physical therapists. Strickland shows that a player's path after attending a major club's academy does not necessarily end with a long-term professional contract. One can train soccer, stay competitive, and make a living from another profession.

Denise Ondau; Factory worker and laser machine operator

While playing for Havelse in Germany's fourth division, Ondau worked at the factory at the same time. In the narrative published on Brighton's official website in February 2022, he explained that he was a laser machine operator for eight hours a day; He would get up around four in the morning, go to the factory, then train and come back home around eight in the evening. The reason was clear: football income was not enough to support life.

Jr. Mesias, a Brazilian working in Italy; Shipping and delivery of the refrigerator

Messias immigrated from Brazil to Italy in 2011. In the early years, he combined the delivery of refrigerators and household appliances with playing amateur football; That is, working and football were two simultaneous activities for him. He gradually rose from the lower ranks and reached Milan. In November 2021, in his first appearance in the Champions League, he scored the winning goal for Milan against Atletico Madrid. The Reuters report, published by RTÉ, narrates this journey from delivering a refrigerator to scoring a goal in the Champions League.

Steve Savidan; Sweeper next to football

In an interview in 2006, Savidan himself explained that he did not have a full-time professional status while playing for Angers and Angoulême. To support himself and his family, he had to work outside of football; One of these jobs was sweeping. The important point in his speech is that the level of the competition alone did not determine the livelihood status of the player: Savidan said that he had a professional contract in Valenciennes, at the same competitive level, but he had to work second in the previous clubs. This item has specific economic explanations for reporting, direct quotations; Without having to recreate the story with exaggerated interpretations.

Carlos Bacca; Bus assistant and ticket sales

Before entering professional football, Baca sold bus tickets and collected fares on the way from Barranquilla to Puerto Colombia while playing. He also helped his father in fishing. This record is registered on the official website of LaLiga. Therefore, to write about him, it is better to use the exact title "Bus ticket seller and helper"; The title "bus driver" is not accurate. Baca's case has the capacity to tell the story of everyday life: a player who, before signing a professional contract, had to earn his living off the field.

Froudi Benjaminsen; Carpenter next to national games

This example is not only related to local amateur football. Benjaminsen, a player of the Faroe Islands national team, was a carpenter. In a report in 2013, UEFA quoted a memory of Brian Kerr, the former head coach of Faro: after the match against France, the next morning, the president of the federation met Benjaminsen around eight o'clock; The player was collecting billboards around the stadium. The player plays against France one day and returns to the same stadium the next morning to do his job.

Stuart Dallas; Dallas construction carpenter

During his semi-professional football career in Northern Ireland, he was also a carpenter. In a 2015 report, Sky Sports wrote that he worked from 9 to 5 at a family friend's business and played football part-time. He later moved to Brentford and then Leeds.

Dan Creaney and Kyle Finn; Two buildings in the team that stopped Tottenham

Tottenham again faced a team with a number of players working outside of football in the FA Cup: Tamworth. In the introduction of the members of this team before the January 2025 race, Dan Creaney "Builder and Construction Worker" and Kyle Finn "Builder" were introduced. The noteworthy point was that this introduction was published by Jordan Callinan Libird, their teammate; An image of a dressing room whose members had different daily jobs in addition to their football role. Tamworth held Tottenham scoreless for 90 minutes on January 12. The Premier League team scored three goals in extra time to advance, but had to work harder than normal to achieve that victory. This match was an illustrative example to see the difference between the conditions of two groups of players. Creaney and Finn faced a Premier League opponent at a time when construction work was also a part of their lives. Football was a serious and competitive activity for them, but it did not constitute their entire working life. Sometimes the media narrative of these players is limited to the wonder of a day: "Buildings vs. Stars". However, the main issue is going on during normal weeks.

Jamie Vardy; An example of exiting the double-job life

Among the players who worked and played football at the same time during the aforementioned periods, Jamie Vardy is a famous example of the transition to full-time football. In its 2017 report, Sky Sports wrote that Vardy was earning £30 a week from football while playing for Stockbridge Park Steels while working in a carbon fiber factory. He then moved to Halifax and Fleetwood before joining Leicester in 2012; The path that later led to the championship of the Premier League and participation in the English national team. He was a factory worker during his low-level football career.