Footballers these days regularly command six-figure salaries, further boosted by off-field sponsorship endorsements worth just as much. But, as many have shown throughout history by squandering fortunes, it pays to think about what the future holds once you’re not in the starting XI.

Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer George Best once said: “I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.”

The millions made during a footballers career could be put to good use in a variety of ways – from investing in the stock market to starting a business themselves.

With this in mind, Clubline Football as pulled together the examples of six footballers, from a number of countries, to showcase how the journey from the bootroom to the boardroom can be achieved.

From property to restaurants, and from social media to inventions, some footballers featured got started on building their business empires before hanging up their boots.

The overlap between the world’s of sport and enterprise is one Real Business has covered in detail, with the likes of Olympic gold medal winning-athlete Kelly Holmes, Rugby World Cup-winning winger Josh Lewsey and French footballer Louis Saha featured.

Whether you’re a footballer or not (and statistics suggest you’re not) the stories of these footballers demonstrate how people need not be defined by one career.

From The Bootroom To The Boardroom by Clubline Football.