Many professional footballers start their careers in football academies where their talent and skills are natured and honed.
However, there are some who had different careers before stardom. TeamKenya takes you through some of the acclaimed footballers who started their careers away from the pitch.
Peter Schmeichel
Before becoming a professional footballer, Schmeichel worked a number of jobs to make ends meet.
The former Danish goalkeeper's first job was in the dyeing department of a textile factory but he later quit due to safety concerns.
The legendary Manchester United shot-stopper then worked for 12 months as a cleaner at a retirement home and an office job with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) before joining Brøndby Copenhagen club, in 1987.
Jamie Vardy
Vardy started his career as a footballer at the age of 16 years old when he joined Sheffield Wednesday. However, he struggled to fit into the club's system and was forced to look for an alternative outside football.
The Leicester City star opted to work in a factory as a casual labourer.
Vardy in past interviews noted that he used to work as a carbon fibre technician where he was tasked with making support tools for people with fractures.
The 35-year-old added that the job was strenuous and nearly damaged his back.
Vardy, meanwhile, trained at night as a footballer at Fleetwood, where his goal scoring traits caught the attention of English Premier League side Leicester City.
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Charlie Austin
Charlie Austin used to work as a bricklayer while playing for Poole Town FC.
His life, however, took a turn at the age of 20 when he was offered a professional deal at Swindon Town. He rose to be a star and played for other big English clubs like Burnley, QPR, Southampton and West Brom.
To mark his struggle in life Austin has a tattoo that reads “Dream big. Impossible is nothing."
Edouard Mendy
The AFCON and Champions League winner in 2014 spent an entire year without a club after he was released by French side Cherbourg.
Mendy's life was turned upside down as his girlfriend was also expecting a child.
This forced the then 22-year-old to look for jobs which ended in vain making him register his name as an unemployed citizen.
However after a year of training with Le Havre’s reserves, the now Chelsea goalkeeper secured a move to Marseille, resurrecting his career.
Mendy has so far won the Afcon with Senegal, the Premier League, Club World Cup and Champions League with the London-based the Blues.
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