5 football personalities who switched to try another sport 

There are a number of multi-sport athletes around the world, although only a few have competed at a professional level in two different sports. Micheal Jordan, Conor Mcgregor, Muhammed Ali to name a few great sporting personalities have switched and competed in two sports.

Croatian and Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic recently claimed it was his dream to play beach volleyball. The winger has played the sport since he was 10 years old and continues to make headway playing in charity events and might make a switch to the sport once he's hung up his football boots.

A number of former footballers such as Curtis Woodhouse, Clive Allen to name a few are honourable mentions who tried their hand at boxing and NFL Europe respectively. Here we take a look at five football personalities who switched to take part in another sport.

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#5 Rio Ferdinand - Boxing

Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand recently announced that he is looking to box professionally aged 39-years-old. After a stunning professional career, the former central defender is looking for another challenge.

The multiple time Premier League winner and Champions League winner still needs to attain a professional boxing license but claims he is working towards the goal. Expected to fight sometime next year, Ferdinand is set to enter the ring aged 39 and make his debut.

A veteran accomplished footballer, Ferdinand also works as a pundit covering Premier League and Champions League games. Eager for another big challenge, the former England defender has set himself a royal one, as looks set to enter the sport of professional boxing.

#4 Micheal Owen - Horse Racing

Owen at the Ascot Race

Former England, Liverpool and Manchester United striker, Micheal Owen called an end to his professional football career in 2013. A prolific poacher with great ability to run past defenders, Owen, the former Ballon d'Or winner in 2001, decided to give horse racing a go.

Owen has previously enjoyed success at the Royal Ascot as an owner-breeder with Brown Panther at the Royal meeting in 2011.

He admitted that the process had been far from easy but is perhaps not going to hang up his riding boots just yet. He went on to say, "I enjoyed it enough to say I would do it again. It would be a shame to stop riding after that. However, I've got four kids and I don't want to hurt myself. I absolutely loved it and I wouldn't put it past me."

The former Englishman finished second in the race although claimed he had a brilliant time racing the horse, with a team by his side.

#3 Jerzy Dudek - Race-car Driver

Dudek celebrates Liverpool's UCL win

Former Polish, Liverpool and Real Madrid goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek is best remembered for his exploits in the Champions League final shootout of 2005. Guiding Liverpool to an incredible comeback victory over AC Milan, the Polish shot-stopper saved crucial penalties to help the Merseyside club to their fifth European Cup trophy.

After retiring from the game in 2013, Dudek turned into a full-time racing driver. He compares the two sports claiming, "It really is like a footballer’s life. You have the discipline, you have a mental coach and someone who’s analysing your performances...there are similarities between playing in goal and racing a car."

"Motor racing was my passion before football. Now I’m learning new tactics about cars, on different tracks. Of course, there are times when I ask myself why I’m doing this; I have a wife and three kids at home - a very nice life, and when you lose control or focus in the car you can really get into trouble."

"But you need passions in life - they are what keep you going. Motor racing gives me a lot of joy and I’m loving it," he went on to add.

#2 Paolo Maldini - Tennis

Paolo Maldini of AC Milan celebrates

Legendary Italian and AC Milan defender, Paolo Maldini will be forever remembered the world over in football as one of the greatest defenders to have ever graced the beautiful game. With a career spanning 2 decades, Maldini accomplished almost everything there is to be done in world football.

At 49-years-old, nine-years after his retirement from the game, the Italian legend tried his hand at professional tennis in the doubles circuit. Maldini, qualified for the Aspria Tennis Cup with doubles partner Stefano Landonio, although the duo was thrashed 6-1, 6-1 by former world No. 44 pairing Tomasz Bednarek and David Pel.

"I got the chance to play the sport that I love, which was football, successfully for 25 years. Life has been great for me. I love sport and I play to keep myself fine in the mind because it helps there," he told reporters.

Going on to add, "It's still sport, and this is certainly one I don't excel in, but my partner and I qualified and this was an unrepeatable experience. We were in the best condition we could have been in, even if we do have a combined age of 100."

The Italian has received many offers post the game to continue his development in the sport although the veteran former defender said it was unlikely.

#1 Andre Villas-Boas - Rally Driver

Villas-Boas during his time as Shanghai manager

Former Porto, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas recently resigned as Shanghai SIPG manager. The Portuguese manager is gearing up to compete in the Dakar Rally in 2018.

The Dakar Rally is an annual rally organised and founded in 1978 with participants beginning the course at Paris, France and ending in Dakar, Senegal. However, due to consistent security threats, the race has been shifted to South America since 2008.

The Portuguese manager Villas-Boas has decided to enter the race as he teams up with fellow Portuguese Ruben Faria as his co-driver. The circuit begins in Lima Peru, following which the teams will drive through La Paz, Bolivia and end at Cordoba in Argentina.