Holt, Ferdinand, Cantona and footballers who took up other sports

Following Grant Holt making his wrestling debut, Goal looks at other footballers, and sports stars, to have moved into other sports

• Table of Contents

  Toggle

  Grant Holt | Wrestling

  Former Norwich City forward Grant Holt swapped his boots for the wrestling ring winning a 40-man Royal Rumble on his debut. Arriving shortly after punditry duties for BT Sport's coverage of Eastleigh vs Dagenham and Redbridge, Holt participated as the surprise 40th entrant and secured victory after drop-kicking an opponent out of the ring.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Rio Ferdinand | Boxing

  Former Manchester United and England player Rio Ferdinand announced that he was to train to become a professional boxer. After being rejected by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) for a licence, the centre-back never made his professional boxing debut. 

• Getty
  

  Clive Allen | American Football

  Former England international Clive Allen turned out for 10 different clubs, most notably Tottenham during the 1980s – a side he would later go on to manage for a match in October 2007. After retiring as a player in 1995, he turned to American football two years later with the London Monarchs.

• Getty Images
  

  Gabriel Batistuta | Polo

  A goal machine for Fiorentina, Roma and Argentina, Gabriel Batistuta turned to polo a few years after retiring in 2005. 'Batigol' once joked he would have taken up the sport sooner had he been forced to battle Lionel Messi for a place in the national team.