5 Footballers who hold/held educational qualifications

Footballers are not often identified as intellectual beings. Most of the footballers begin training at a very young age and their concentration and prioritization of the game often lead to them giving up on their educational aspirations.

However, there have been some players who have bucked the trend by ensuring that the time in between their footballing obligations is put to educational use.

They have not only enjoyed a stellar footballing career but have also been able to attain educational qualifications in their area of interest and in this segment we take a look at 5 footballers who also hold educational degrees.

Steve Coppell (Degree in Economic History)

The former Manchester United and England winger Steve Coppell was regarded as one of the best in the business during his playing days. The Liverpool born attacker featured over 300 times for the Red Devils in the late 1970’s as well as early 1980’s and was also a pivotal member of the England squad winning a few trophies during his playing career.

However, a horrendous knee injury forced the nippy winger to retire earlier than most people would have expected at the age of 28 and Coppell has taken the natural course of moving into football management and is the current manager of Jamshedpur FC after stints with the likes of Crystal Palace, Manchester City, and Reading

However, there is one aspect of his life that has often gone unnoticed and that is his academic achievement. The Liverpool born Coppell had attracted a lot of attention from several top clubs in England but decided to join Tranmere Rovers so that his pursuit of a degree in economic history would not be brought to an abrupt halt.

Even when he decided to move to the greatly admired Manchester United, it was under the condition that he would be allowed to pursue his studies in economics at the University of Liverpool and the player achieved his dream of obtaining a degree while still plying his trade for Manchester United.

Shaka Hislop (Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering)

Hislop even interned at NASA before making his name in football.

Shaka Hislop, who spent a considerable time in the English Premier League with the likes of Newcastle United, Portsmouth and West Ham has enjoyed quite a stellar career. He was part of a successful Newcastle United line-up under Kevin Keegan and while he might not have won any silverware at the St. James Park, he has etched himself in the glorious memoirs of the Premier League, courtesy of his performances in between the sticks.

However, before he became a professional footballer, Hislop actually enjoyed quite a great academic career. After graduating from St Mary’s College in Trinidad, the former Newcastle United man earned himself a scholarship at the Howard University. While the studies were expected to take the front seat after Hislop enrolled himself for a Mechanical engineering course, it was not to be as Hislop continued to play football and was part of the side that reached NCAA finals as a freshman.

The shot-stopper eventually graduated with honours in Mechanical Engineering before being spotted by a Reading scout during a friendly against Aston Villa and Reading wasted no time in ensuring that they acquired his signature at the earliest.

What is even more fascinating that Hislop actually even interned at the NASA while pursuing his Mechanical Engineering.

The Hackney-born shot-stopper, who retired at the end of the 2006-07 season, is currently involved with ESPN as a commentator and analyst and remains one of the most educated footballers to have graced the game.

Giorgio Chiellini (Masters in Business Administration)

Chiellini holds a Master's degree in Business Administration.

Giorgio Chiellini has already established himself as one of the finest defenders to have graced the game. The Livorno born defender, who has enjoyed an illustrious career in Turin with Juventus, has played a crucial role in the old lady of Turin becoming a force to reckon with yet again over the last decade and has deservedly won the appreciation of pundits and players.

However, there is a facet of his life that largely remained hidden until April of 2017 when photos of Chiellini holding a masters degree began circulating on the internet. While the Italian has been busy keeping even the best of attackers at bay, he has also found time to pursue his higher studies.

He completed his Bachelor’s in Business Administration in 2010 and then went on to complete his Master’s in Business administration in 2017 and that too with flying colours. So perhaps the next time, we complain that we do not find the requisite time to pursue our ambitions, we can take a leaf or two out of Chiellini’s book.

At 33 years of age, Chiellini might be moving into the final years of his footballing career and given his interest in business, we would not be surprised if the star defender takes charge of business matters at a football club as he looks to combine his knowledge of business as well as that of the game.

Robert Lewandowski (Bachelors in Sports)

Lewandowski earned a degree in sports just 24 hours after helping Poland qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

There are very few strikers of Lewandowski’s calibre plying their trade in the game currently. The Polish striker, who moved to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2014 on a free transfer has been in prolific form for not only the Bavarian giants but also for the Polish national team and has given even the seemingly toughest defenders in the world sleepless nights.

The 29-year-old Pole has scored an impressive 124 goals in 164 appearances since moving to the Allianz Arena and has also played a crucial role in Poland’s World Cup qualification.

However, in what might have come as a surprise to many, not only is Lewandowski a prolific scorer, he also holds a bachelor’s in Sports from the Academy of Sports Education, a degree that he was conferred upon just 24 hours after ensuring that the Polish national team would travel to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

While it took him 10 years to complete the degree, Lewandowski’s determination cannot go ignored. It was only fitting that his thesis was based on his development as a footballer and his professors were full of praise for the Pole’s work titled “RL 9, path to glory”. He was awarded the highest possible grade for his efforts and one of his professors Marek Rybinski even claimed that Lewandowski’s answers with regards to his work were excellent.

Socrates (Degree in Medicine)

"Doctor Socrates" remains one of the finest attacking midfielders of all times.

Socrates remains one of the finest attacking midfielders that have graced the game. The Brazilian, who gained footballing prominence courtesy of his performances for Corinthians and Brazilian national team in the 1970’s and 80’s, was a technically sound playmaker who possessed the ability to split open the best of defences with finesse on the ball as well as an astute understanding of the game.

His easily recognisable beard and headband made him a global phenomenon and was deservedly given a place in Pele’s FIFA 100 list of world’s greatest living players in 2004 and the Brazilian remains a cult figure worldwide even today.

However, not only was Socrates a highly acclaimed footballer, he was also one of the well-educated footballers. The Brazilian held a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine from the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto in Sao Paulo and what is perhaps more fascinating is that he earned his degree while pursuing his footballing career in Brazil.

“Doctor Socrates”, as he was lovingly called by fans and players alike, even practised medicine after he was done with his footballing career. Apart from being a medically qualified individual, Socrates is also remembered for his political views as he openly supported direct Presidential elections and even claimed that if the government did not adopt the direct elections, he would move to Italy in front of 2 million people at a public rally.