Tim Wiese in WWE: post-playing career changes

With former Germany Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese making his WWE (professional wrestling to the uninitiated) in-ring debut in Munich on Thursday, UEFA.com looks at a selection of other curious post-football career changes from over the years.

▪ Vinnie Jones, who won nine caps for Wales, has become a Hollywood actor most famous for his role in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

▪ Ex-Turkey and Beşiktaş striker İlhan Mansız (remember that golden goal against Senegal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup?) went into professional figure skating.

▪ Former Spain goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares became a rally driver.

▪ Another ex-keeper, Fabian Barthez of France and Manchester United, began a career in motorsport in 2008 and has since competed in the Le Mans 24-hour race.

©Getty Images

Mehmet Scholl spent most of his career at Bayern

▪ Mehmet Scholl, a Bayern München player for 15 years, founded an indie record label.

▪ Knut Anders Fostervold, who played most notably for Molde in the UEFA Champions League, later competed in the Cycling Road World Championships.

▪ Former Norway, Celtic and København striker Harald Brattback is now an airline pilot.

▪ Mantas Šernius, who plied his trade for Atlantas in Lithuania, quit football aged 21 before making his name as head coach of the Lithuania women’s basketball team.

▪ Ex-St Pauli keeper Volker Ippig swapped football for life as a dock worker at Hamburg Harbour.

▪ Ray Wilson, a 1966 FIFA World Cup winner with England, became an undertaker – Wiese might be coming up against one of those himself soon if his new career takes off …