In their pomp, they played in front of packed stadiums and an adoring crowd, earning thousands of pounds a week.

But rather than make the obvious move into coaching or punditry, these former footballers opted to pursue obscure jobs after hanging up their boots.

From a pastor to a fisherman and from a detective to an actor, here MailOnline looks at those footballers in their unusual second professions.

Kevin Francis

Now: Gang squad police in Canada

A powerful striker and a towering presence on the field, Kevin Francis made more than 300 appearances in the Football League, netting 115 goals.

He enjoyed a prolific spell at Stockport County in the early 90s before joining Birmingham City and Oxford United, where he famously conceded a late penalty in an FA Cup tie with Chelsea that was netted by Frank Leboeuf (see below).

After ending his career with non-league Studley, the 6ft 7in Saint Kitts & Nevis international initially went out to Canada after being badgered by a friend to join him for a trucking job.

Towering striker Kevin Francis (pictured left), with Lee Todd and Jason Lee at Stockport

He told MailOnline: 'I was driving for about two and a half years. It was fantastic in the summer as I was seeing the length and breadth of Canada, but in winter it was a little bit scary as it was cold, dark and the transport infrastructure isn't as good as it is in the UK.

'I was pulling two trailers and we would normally work for four days on and then three days off, but sometimes it was for 10 days at a time.

'As I was doing that another friend I went to school with, who had been with the West Midlands Police, moved out to Canada. He first worked in Edmonton, before coming to Calgary.

'He always used to say it was the best job in the world but I was like 'I've already done that!' But he kept telling me to apply so eventually I just decided to do it. Ten years later and I'm still there.'

Francis is now in the Gang Suppression Team in Calgary - which he has been with for the last four and half years - and he admitted it involved some 'pretty heavy s***'.

Francis now works in the gang squad in the police force in Calgary, in Canada

He said: 'It is made up of two teams of nine and we do a one-hour workout before shifts every day, so it has that team element that I had as a footballer and that was definitely something that appealed to me, as these guys have got my back.

'Ninety per cent of what we do is dealing with gang members. Everyone knows who we are, so it's face to face and that can be quite scary. We get a little bit of history from the dispatch and so we know someone might be in a bar or club or carrying firearms, or have bodies in a van, so we have the unfortunate job of knowing what we are dealing with.'

Recalling one of his scariest moments, he revealed: 'One year ago we were called to an incident at a downtown night club in Calgary. When we got there we heard the crack off four or five rounds of gunfire. We went across the road and we saw the gunman round the front with the bouncer, so we cornered him off and took his weapon off him and then went into the club where everyone was panicking and saying there had been a shooter inside. You can't switch off.'

He added: 'It's definitely an adrenaline rush but it's a different sort of rush from being a footballer. Every day is different and what you see on TV isn't too far from the truth.'

He joked: 'But I haven't done my Achilles or my ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament) while doing this job!'

One of Francis' two daughters, Stacey, represented England in the Commonwealth Games at netball.

She currently plays professionally for West Coast Fever in Perth.

Phil Mulryne

Now: Training to be a priest

Former Manchester United player Phil Mulryne once rubbed shoulders with the likes of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs – but he has since swapped his strip for a cassock.

The 38-year-old, who represented Northern Ireland 27 times, earned up to £500,000-a-year during his playing heyday at Norwich City and dated glamour model Nicola Chapman, who appeared on Real Footballer's Wives 2005.

In the same year, Mulryne famously went on an all-night bender with ex-Manchester City player Jeff Whitley during Northern Ireland's World Cup qualification matches and was sent home in disgrace by manager Lawrie Sanchez.

Former Manchester United player Phil Mulryne is now training to be a Catholic priest

In October this year, the former Nowich and Northern Ireland footballer was ordained by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, and is now a member of the Dominican Order

After ill-fated spells at Cardiff City and Leyton Orient, he decided against a career in coaching in favour of a more spiritual existence.

Mulryne enrolled at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome in 2009, the first step on his journey to becoming a priest after ending his career at non-league King's Lynn.

He then spent two years studying philosophy in Rome, before undertaking a four-year theology degree in Belfast.

In October this year, he was ordained by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, and is now a member of the Dominican Order.

A month earlier the ex-midfielder had been declared bankrupt at Belfast's High Court after investing heavily in a film industry tax scheme.

Jody Craddock

Now: Artist

A natural leader on the field, many would have expected no-thrills defender Jody Craddock to become a coach after calling time on his career at Wolves.

Much to his former teammates' surprise he decided against doing so and is now earning a living as a professional artist.

His work – a combination of his portraiture and experimental style – has appeared at galleries and exhibitions and he has been commissioned to produce pieces for fellow professionals such as former England captain John Terry.

Former Wolves captain Jody Craddock, pictured celebrating their promotion in 2009 (left) is now a professional artist

The defender played for Sunderland for six years and it was there he was able to afford new materials and pursue his hobby

Craddock, who made a total of 581 senior appearances in a 22-year career, told MailOnline: 'I love art and I love painting. It's hard work as I'm not established or a big name in the art would but I'm plugging away.

'When it's freezing cold outside I remember how I used to be running around in my shorts…but now I'm nice and warm in my studio!

'Art has always been a hobby of mine. When I wasn't playing football I was either playing golf or painting and drawing. I started by copying out a few superhero pictures. Over the years the more I did, the better I got.'

His old team mates were initially sceptical about his new-found profession.

'They were like 'oh yeah what's this s*** going to be like?' But they have been quietly impressed', he revealed.

'My aim is to be recognised as an artist who used to be pretty good at football rather than an ex-footballer who likes to paint.'

Lee Bowyer

Now: Fisherman

The heartbeat of the dazzling Leeds United side that reached the semi-final of the Champions league in 2001, former England international Lee Bowyer opened a carp fishing lake in France following his retirement from football.

The 39-year-old, who also played for his boyhood club West Ham, as well as Newcastle United, said: 'I got the bug as a kid, catching roach in my local canal. Now I could be a professional I think.'

He bought the lake, near a village called Orconte, in north-eastern France, and named it Etang de Bows which translates as Bows' Lake – his nickname.

Bowyer courted controversy during his career and famously fought with teammate Kieron Dyer, while at Newcastle United

In a previous interview with Sportsmail, the goal-scoring midfielder said: 'You either love or hate fishing. I love it – I used it as a getaway as a player. It allowed me to switch off because I was a nightmare otherwise.'

Bowyer scored 99 goals during his successful playing career but he also attracted headlines for his misdemeanours off the field.

Along with former Leeds team mate Jonathan Woodgate, he was acquitted of GBH in relation to an incident near a Leeds nightclub in January 2000, in which an Asian student suffered severe injuries.

He was also fined £30,000 for fighting Newcastle team-mate Kieron Dyer on the pitch during a game in 2005.

Last month he revealed his desire to return to football and was linked with the managerial position at his first club, Charlton Athletic.

Frank Leboeuf

Now: Actor

The cultured Frenchman won the World Cup in his home country in 1998, and lifted the FA Cup twice, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup during a glittering spell with Chelsea.

After ending his career in Qatar, the bald-headed centre-half relocated to Los Angeles and played football with Vinnie Jones before following the ex-Wimbledon man into acting.

Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf is now an actor and appeared in Theory of Everything

Leboeuf, who is 48, said: 'My job in each role is to make people forget about me as a footballer'

In a previous interview with Sportsmail, he said: 'It was my first passion. I wanted to become an actor before becoming a football player.

'Because of my mother I was watching movies and we used to watch plays as well. I told her I wanted to be an actor.

'But my father created a football academy, so I used to play with my father and friends and it went well. I never had any regrets. But when I gave up my career in 2005 I went to Los Angeles because I was so desperate to learn.'

In 2014, Leboeuf played the role of the doctor in the Stephen Hawking biopic, the Theory of Everything, that was nominated for an Oscar.

'In sport, the goal was titles', he explained. 'In the movie industry, you want to share something artistic, something creative.

'My job in each role is to make people forget about me as a footballer, to only see my character. Having that life in football is not a plus in my life right now because people never forget what you did.'

Dani Osvaldo

Now: Musician

Flamboyant floppy-haired striker Dani Osvaldo became Southampton's record signing, when the club splashed out £15million on the Argentine-born Italian.

In a dismal spell on the South Coast he mustered only three goals and is best remembered for headbutting team-mate Jose Fonte during a training ground bust-up.

After being farmed out on loan to Juventus and Internazionale, the 30-year-old ended his career at Boca Juniors, where he was sacked by the club after being caught smoking in the changing rooms.

Controversial striker Dani Osvaldo, pictured playing for Southampton, in December 2013

The flamboyant former player (pictured centre) is now lead singer of the band Barrio Viejo

Osvaldo (left) said football was 'full of s**t' and now feels 'liberated' as he's dedicated to music

Italian club Chievo offered the controversial player another chance to resurrect his career with a £2million-a-year contract, but he decided to turn his back on football in favour of music.

Osvaldo - who once punched a teammate in the face for failing to pass him the ball while at Roma - now performs vocals for band Barrio Viejo.

The group are reported to be making the early steps in their career in Argentina after playing small shows in bars in Barcelona.

Osvaldo told Fox Sports Argentina: 'Football was not happy, it is a world full of s**t. I realised that I was unhappy and decided to say enough.'

'I feel like I've liberated a part of me. Now I feel calm, I'm dedicated to what I love: music.'

Gavin Peacock

Now: Pastor

The son of a professional footballer, Gavin Peacock amassed 542 league appearances for clubs including Newcastle, Chelsea and QPR before retiring in 2002 after an 18-year career.

After hanging up his boots, Peacock appeared as a guest on Football Focus and Match of the Day.

He was an analyst for the BBC at the 2008 European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, after which he announced he was quitting his media role to become a Pastor in Canada.

Instead of giving his thoughts on the latest match, Peacock now preaches to his congregation at Calvary Grace Church, in the city of Calgary in the Province of Alberta.

Gavin Peacock amassed 542 league appearances for clubs including Newcastle, Chelsea and QPR (pictured, celebrating a goal against West Brom)

After retiring from football and punditry, Gavin Peacock is now a preacher in Calgary, Canada

Peacock relocated to Canada with his family after working as an analyst during Euro 2008

The 49-year-old said: 'I left England after Euro 2008, when I had been working as part of the TV team for the BBC.

'And not long after I was living in a small town in a strange country, getting up at seven in the morning to study Hebrew at eight, followed by ancient Greek at 10. And I wondered, 'What have I got myself into?'

'It never felt like it was going to be for ever. When I got the call to enter the ministry I just felt like that what I was meant to do. I feel compelled to do it. I was in my study reading my Bible when it seemed someone had highlighted the words on the pages. I suddenly felt the calling to preach.'

He added: 'Coming to Canada was like stripping things back, I couldn't trade off my name. No one was going to give me a hearing because I was Gavin Peacock, ex-Chelsea captain.'

Last year Peacock courted controversy when he was accused of sexism for tweeting 'Wives: one of the primary ways you are to respect your husband is by gladly submitting to and encouraging his leadership.'

Dion Dublin

Now: Presenter of Homes Under The Hammer and inventor of 'The Dube'

Former England striker Dion Dublin was the shock choice as the new Homes Under The Hammer presenter last year.

The popular 47-year-old, who made more than 600 league appearances during a 20-year career playing for a host of clubs including Norwich City, Aston Villa and Coventry City, worked in the media after retiring in May 2008.

But last year, he was surprisingly announced as the third presenter of the property auction show when he joined Martin Roberts and Lucy Alexander.

After retiring, Dublin was revealed as the shock choice to present Homes Under The Hammer

Dublin made more than 600 league appearances during his career, including at Aston Villa

Earlier this year it emerged millionaire Dublin had benefited from training costing up to £50,000 from the BBC's Diversity Creative Talent Fund to prepare him for his new role hosting the property programme.

Despite the training, the ex-Manchester United player faced criticism for his shaky performance on show, which prompted him to reply that he would 'do better'.

Alexander, who had been with the show since it began in 2003, quit as Dublin's co-presenter in July this year.

After finishing up at Norwich, the prolific 6ft 2in striker also launched his own percussion instrument, 'The Dube', a cube-shaped drum played with the hands.

Dublin, pictured with fellow Villa teammate Lee Hendrie, after their call ups to the national side

Arjan de Zeeuw

Now: Detective

Strapping defender Arjan de Zeeuw made a career out of stopping attackers during his time at Barnsley, Wigan, Portsmouth and Coventry.

But after retiring, he now spends his time trying to stamp out crime - as a detective in his native Holland.

De Zeeuw, who was ironically nicknamed 'The Peacemaker' in his playing days, once captained Wigan in front of 67,000 fans against Manchester United in the 2006 League Cup final.

Arjan De Zeeuw (pictured playing for Wigan) is now a police detective in Holland (right)

De Zeeuw (pictured while playing for Wigan in 2006) - the year he captained them in the Carling Cup final against Manchester United

These days he investigates cases involving human trafficking and drugs in the Dutch city of Alkmaar.

De Zeeuw, who was once bizarrely named by Tony Blair as his favourite player, became a professional later than usual - at 22 - and already had a medical degree when he joined Barnsley in 1995.

After spells skippering Portsmouth and Wigan, the Dutch defender ending his English playing career at Coventry.

Once retired, he brought his medical degree up to date but it was going to take at least seven years to quality as a doctor.

He instead joined the fast-track policing scheme in Holland and now specialises in forensics.

'You can play football in front of tens of thousands of people but this is entirely different', he told Sportsmail.

In an interview with The Guardian, he added: 'My footballing past helps in that I'm used to physical contact. We get training in handling ourselves in volatile situations and I'm pretty relaxed about that.'

David Hillier

Now: A fireman

Former Arsenal and England U21 midfielder David Hillier won a League winner's medal in 1990 but failed to hold down a place in the Gunners team.

After he was found guilty of stealing a briefcase belonging to a Danish businessman at Gatwick Airport in 1996, he was sold to Portsmouth when Arsene Wenger arrived in North London and went on to play for Bristol Rovers and Barnet in the lower leagues.

In the days before the staggering salaries footballers command today, Hillier had to 'get out and make ends meet' after retiring in 2003.

Hillier, pictured with Kevin Campbell and David Seaman, in the year he won a League medal with Arsenal - he is now a fireman

In an interview with the Guardian, he revealed: 'Me and the missus were driving past the fire station one day and she just said 'you know, it's a bit like a football club: you spend a lot of time together, working as a team...I just thought why not''.

However, with no prior experience of interviews, Hillier struggled to land the job.

Finally, on the fourth time of asking, he passed the interview stage and was allowed to begin his firefighting work in Bristol.

'The rush is incredible', he explained. 'Football just can't compare. It's the fear factor kicking in. It's pretty serious s***'.

He told the Telegraph: 'Firefighting is a team job. It's like being a footballer, but on about 100 grand a year less.'

Hillier was a tenacious midfielder and made more than 100 appearances for Arsenal

Tim Wiese

Now: WWE Wrestler

Former Germany shot stopper Tim Wiese - who was in the national squad for the 2010 World Cup - has become a WWE wrestler after hanging up his gloves.

Wiese, who won 13 caps for Germany between 2008 and 2012, made his in-ring debut in Munich in November.

His WWE career got off to a winning start.

Tim Wiese - who was in the Germany squad for the 2010 World Cup - is now a WWE wrestler

The 34-year-old, competing alongside partners Cesaro and Sheamus, beat the team of The Shining Stars and Bo Dallas.

He got the pinfall after performing his finishing move, a body splash.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: 'Anyone can have a go, I'm going to be unbeatable.

'This is Champions League. WWE is the biggest thing in wrestling, so I'm fully focused and blending out everything else around me.'

The former Werder Bremen keeper added: 'I don't really see wrestling as an escape, it's an alternative to becoming fat and sitting on the couch.'

The 34-year-old former goalkeeper made his in-ring debut in Munich in November

The burly 6ft 4in former goalkeeper first made moves into wrestling in November 2014 when he was a guest timekeeper for a WWE Live Event match in Frankfurt.