Football, formerly designated for dropouts, now employs people from all backgrounds. It's a multi-billion industry, as indicated by the players' massive weekly pay. Football players earn more in a year than doctors do in a lifetime. More players are realizing the importance of education, and some are combining the two. We highlight 10 athletes with master's degrees.
1. Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard has retired and he is into coaching. He is the coach of Everton. Frank Lampard attended Brentwood School. The 44-year-old won the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Lampard is well-educated and earned an A in Latin at school.
2. Giorgio Chiellini
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is also well-educated. The Italy international is known for his aggressive tackles and defence. Off the field, he's smart. He has won Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa Italia and has a BA in economics and trade. Chiellini graduated from Turin University in 2010 and earned a master's degree.
3. Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany is currently retired and coaching, yet he remains a Premier League legend. He helped make Manchester City a European powerhouse and captained Belgium for years. Kompany combined football and school for four years. He earned a Business Administration degree from Alliance Manchester Business School in 2017.
4. Juan Mata
Juan Mata is a good writer with a blog where he shares his opinions. The exceptional midfielder has enrolled at Madrid's Camilo Jose Cela University to study Sports Science and Finance. Mata is nearing retirement, but he's already preparing for his post-football life.
5. Simon Mignolet
Simon Mignolet played for Sunderland and Liverpool. He played in both the Premier League and Champions League. Off the field, the 32-year-old has a Political Science degree he earned in England. Mignolet is multilingual.
6. Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta has always had life figured out. In club and international football, he won everything. He comes from a wealthy family and has two degrees. Iniesta has a degree in Biology and another in Sports Science.
7. Socrates
Socrates's magic on the pitch made him beloved among elderly football fans. Socrates was one of Pele's FIFA 100 greatest living players in 2004. His great political knowledge inspired many individuals.
8. Romelu Lukaku
The forward speaks English, Spanish, Dutch, French, and Portuguese. Lukaku speaks German, and Swahili, and has a degree in tourism and PR.
Photo Source: Goal Africa.
9. Edwin Van der Saar
Another smart Man United player; no wonder they're so successful. After retiring, the Dutch goalkeeper studied sports and brand management at the Johan Cruyff Institute. He was a Dutch giant's marketing director before becoming CEO.
10. Oliver Bierhoff
Oliver Bierhoff scored 37 goals in 70 international games and won Euro 96 for Germany. Bierhoff is another player who studied economics at the distance-learning FernUniversität Hagen.
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