Life after retirement can be terrifying for everyone, not just football players. A significant number of football players do, however, dabble in punditry or football management.
A clear example is Former Northern Ireland central midfielder Philip Mulryne who once played for Norwich City and Manchester United.
The Northern Irishman was delighted in taking home £500,000 annually as a player for Norwich but chose to become a catholic priest rather than emulate other former players.
He earned 27 caps for his country in a career that included spells with Norwich and Cardiff City, making over 150 league appearances for the Norfolk outfit before leaving for Cardiff City in 2005.
The former Carrington academy product, now 46, struggled to find a place in Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad and only made five appearances for the Red Devils overall, with only one of those coming in the Premier League.
His only Premier League appearance for the club came on the final day of the 1997-98 season as United beat Barnsley to finish second behind Arsenal.
Philip Mulryne was ordained as a Catholic Priest for the Dominican order in 2017 and is currently based at St. Mary’s Priory Church in Cork. 
He once earned over £500,000 per year as a professional player but revealed he got “bored” of “the money, the cars, the nightclubs and the attention of women”.
“I was quite shocked – why am I not happy when I have everything that young men want?” Mulryne reflected during an interview with Norwich’s official website.
He acknowledges that his choice to become a priest was not hasty, but rather the product of careful thought and a desire for a more satisfying life.
“I felt this strong desire for this way of life and I stayed with it for a few months and then got the courage up to explore it,” he shared, affirming his conviction and the peace he found in his new vocation.
Reverend Father Mulryne added:
“Even the word religion comes from the Latin Religare – to bind, to rebind yourself.
“That’s what we are doing when we practice our religion towards God. We bind ourselves to God and Him to us.
Will it become routine for former football players to transition into God’s ministry in the coming years?
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Story by Asack Pius |univers.ug.edu.gh
