5 football personalities who switched to try another sport 

#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.