The 2024 United States presidential election is all the eye proper now, however have you ever ever questioned which soccer gamers have moved into politics?
As American voters selected between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris — neither of whom, after all, have been skilled athletes, though in a 1990s broadcast, Trump admitted to taking part in soccer in highschool — TEAMtalk took a take a look at soccer gamers from others who’ve develop into politicians.
Right here at TT we at all times cowl the newest strikes involving gamers and coaches – however not often on the earth of politics.
It’s often extra widespread for a participant to develop into a pundit or coach after retirement, and even an agent supervision of transfers – however generally they’ve political ambitions that take them into a complete new world.
Some have served as ministers, some have been members of parliament and a few have even led their international locations as presidents or prime ministers.
Beginning with the well-known father of a USMNT star and that includes Ballon d'Or and World Cup winners, listed here are our prime 10.
George Weah
Winner of the Ballon d'Or in 1995, Weah loved a taking part in profession with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. He’s surely the most effective participant to come back out of Liberia and has gone on to steer his nation.
Father of USMNT worldwide Tim Weah, he ran for the presidency of Liberia in 2005 however was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, when he ran once more in 2017, he received 60% of the vote and was elected president.
His inauguration was attended by Didier Drogba, the previous Ivorian Chelsea striker, and Samuel Eto'o, the previous Cameroonian Barcelona striker.
On the finish of 2023, Weah misplaced the presidency after being defeated by only one proportion level within the subsequent presidential election, the closest within the nation's historical past.
Gianni Rivera
One in every of AC Milan's greatest ever gamers, Gianni Rivera received 12 trophies with the Italian membership, in addition to Euro 1968 together with his nation.
Rivera retired in 1979 and eight years later he grew to become a member of the Italian parliament as a part of the Christian Democracy celebration and was re-elected thrice.
He even grew to become a member of the European Parliament later in his political profession, between 2005 and 2009, earlier than returning to soccer with the FIGC (Italian soccer affiliation).
Kakha Kaladze
One other participant well-known for his spell with AC Milan, Kaladze is the fifth most capped Georgian participant of all time, however was additionally a eager investor in direction of the tip of his taking part in days.
After ending his taking part in profession in 2012, the previous defender was elected to the Georgian parliament that October. Actually, he grew to become the nation's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Vitality.
Kaladze resigned from that function in 2017 to run for mayor of Tbilisi, and he was elected with 51% of the vote. He retained the title with 55% of the vote after being re-elected 4 years later.
Hakan Sukur
Scorer of the quickest ever objective in a World Cup match in 2002 for Turkey, Sukur's fundamental membership in his taking part in profession was Galatasaray.
In 2011, three years after his retirement from the sport, he was elected as a member of the Turkish Grand Nationwide Meeting, however resigned from his put up in 2013.
In August 2016, the identical 12 months during which he was accused of insulting President Erdogan on Twitter, an arrest warrant was issued for Sukur because of his alleged hyperlinks to Fethullah Gulen (who was accused of attempting to overthrow Erdogan , though he denied instigating the 2016 coup try).
Sukur has lengthy since left Turkey to maneuver to the US, opening a sports activities academy amongst different ventures.
Oleg Blokhin
Blokhin received the Ballon d'Or in 1975 whereas taking part in for Dynamo Kyiv. After retiring, he labored as a coach, but in addition entered politics in 1998 when he was elected to the Ukrainian parliament.
He was re-elected for a second time period in 2002.
Romario
One of many prime goalscorers of his era, Romario performed for the likes of PSV and Barcelona, in addition to scoring 55 worldwide targets for Brazil.
In 2010, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil. 4 years later, he was elected to the Brazilian Senate with essentially the most votes ever for a candidate for the state of Rio de Janeiro. He stays in that function to today.
Whereas he has represented totally different events over time, Romario's dedication to politics stays intact – even after he got here out of retirement earlier this 12 months to play once more for former membership America-RJ.
Zico
One other of Brazil's all-time greats, Zico – a 1978 World Cup winner – grew to become his nation's first sports activities minister in 1990. Nevertheless, he stepped down after simply 13 months because of of exterior pressures.
The identical function was later taken on by the best Brazilian legend of all, Pele, who served from 1995 to 1998.
Roman Kosecki
Within the US, Roman Kosecki is greatest often called a striker who completed his profession with the Chicago Fireplace within the late 90s – however earlier than that, the Polish worldwide performed for Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray again in Europe.
After retirement, he grew to become an MP in Poland, however later turned his consideration to soccer by working for a special type of presidency – that of the Polish soccer affiliation. He misplaced one other former participant, Zbigniew Boniek, who nonetheless appointed him as vp of youth improvement.
Kaj Leo Johannesen
It’s possible you’ll not have heard a lot about Kaj Leo Johannesen as a participant – he spent his total profession within the Faroe Islands and confronted his lower-ranked nation simply 4 instances – however he is just one of two people to 2 have performed for him. his nation and develop into its official chief (the opposite is Weah).
A goalkeeper in his taking part in days – in reality, he was additionally an energetic handball participant – throughout which he additionally spent a while on the Torshavn Metropolis Council, Johannesen went on to develop into prime minister of the Faroe Islands between 2008 and 2015.
Within the October 2011 election he obtained extra private votes than another Faroese candidate ever (though this report was later damaged when he was defeated within the 2015 election).
Honorable mentions
As talked about earlier, Pele succeeded Zico as Brazil's sports activities minister, whereas additionally being a UN ambassador and even having a legislation named after him in Brazil.
Former Chelsea and AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko joined Ukraine – Striker! celebration in 2012 however didn’t win any structure.
Former Belgium coach and consultant Marc Wilmots, whose former golf equipment included Normal Liege and Schalke, sat within the Belgian Senate between 2003 and 2007.
Albert Gudmundsson, who performed for Rangers, Arsenal and AC Milan within the 1940s, was elected to the Icelandic parliament in 1974 and got here third within the 1980 presidential race.
Carlos Mac Allister, the daddy of present Liverpool midfielder Alexis, performed for Boca Juniors earlier than being elected to Argentina's Nationwide Chamber of Deputies in 2013 and changing into Secretary of Sports activities between 2015 and 2018.
Roberto Dinamite scored 20 targets for Brazil and had a short stint at Barcelona earlier than being elected to the State Meeting of Rio de Janeiro after his retirement and changing into State Deputy in 1994.
Lastly, Ahmed Ben Bella is known as the primary president of Algeria, however he may have had a profession in soccer, having beforehand performed – simply as soon as – for Marseille in 1940 earlier than turning down a proposal for an expert contract.
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