Odd jobs: The weird careers ex-footballers have gone on to

And it's perhaps less of a surprise that you want to relieve that frustration by punching, kicking, and slamming people for the entertainment of others.

That’s the choice ex-Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim goalkeeper Tim Wiese made after 15 seasons in German football, hanging up his boots and oiling up his torso to step into the ring as a WWE fighter for the first time this Thursday.

The average length of a UK footballer’s playing career is just eight years, meaning many players have plenty of time to take a shot at another career, and there’s plenty of opportunities out there.

Here are our top picks.

1. Stuart Tomlinson

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German giant Wiese is not the first goalkeeper to take the step into a WWE ring. Former Burton Albion stopper Stuart Tomlinson also took a shot at becoming a WWE fighter.

The 6ft contender didn’t grab too many headlines, however, and had his wrestling spell cut short when he was axed by the WWE in September 2016.

2. Eric Cantona

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Manchester United’s iconic French forward was an incredible character on the pitch with his cool and suave persona. Well, at least he was when he wasn’t unleashing leaping karate kicks... So it made sense that he transferred that onto the silver screen.

With box office hits such as Elizabeth and Looking For Eric, Cantona has become a regular face in big budget films since he retired from football in 1997.

3. Dion Dublin

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From the silver screen to television screens, ex-footballers can be spotted all over the place.

Former Aston Villa and Norwich City striker Dion Dublin is one of them, and he currently hosts daytime television show Homes Under The Hammer on BBC One, where he travels around the country uncovering the various tricks of the property auction trade.

4. Thomas Gravesen

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From a sport that requires you to run around a field for 90 minutes, to one where you sit at a table and keep a straight face for as long as you can.

After earning millions throughout his career, former Everton and Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen decided to invest his earnings in becoming a professional poker player in Las Vegas – now boasting an estimated worth in excess of £80 million.

5. Gavin Peacock

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Similar to many other footballers, Peacock used his status in the sport to become a BBC pundit once his playing days had come to an end.

However, the former Chelsea, QPR and Newcastle United midfielder turned his back on the punditry world to take a leap of faith, opting to become a Christian minister instead.

6. Jose Manuel Pinto

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With a bad-ass cornrow hairstyle and goatee trimmed to perfection, Jose Manuel Pinto had the look of an early 2000s pop star written all over him.

It made sense then that the ex-Barcelona goalkeeper made the transition from diving at balls to dropping beats as a music producer.

7. Ray Wilson

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Winding back the clocks to the 60s, when footballs weighed a ton and pitches were more mud than grass, but at least back then England could win the World Cup.

Ray Wilson was one of the legends of the 1966 England World Cup-winning squad, experiencing in the fanfare of England's historic victory. But after his playing ended, he chose a new career with a slightly less raucous flavour. He became an undertaker.

And one player who refuses to hang up his boots...

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One World Cup-winner’s medal and seven Serie A titles speak for themselves, but when you’re still the number one choice for the national team (and for arguably the biggest club in Italy too), it’s no mystery why Gianluigi Buffon hasn’t hung up his gloves just yet.

Now 38, and still as much of an imposing figure as he was in his prime, we’re glad to know that Buffon is still scaring the life out of opposition strikers and probably will continue to do so for a long time yet...

Forza Gigi!