Soccer Stars Who Trade Cleats for Campaigns

You might have heard about the upcoming US presidential election, but what about soccer players who’ve given politics a shot? While many athletes transition to coaching or commentating, some have ventured into the political scene with impressive results. Let's explore ten soccer greats who’ve made this unusual transition. George Weah, the Ballon d’Or winner from 1995, gained fame playing for teams like Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. Born in Liberia, he made his biggest impact off the field when he became the country’s president in 2017. His political journey began with an unsuccessful run in 2005, but he bounced back and won the election with a massive 60% of the votes. Gianni Rivera, a legend of AC Milan, won 12 trophies during his time there and also helped Italy win Euro 1968. After retiring in 1979, he gradually moved into politics, serving as a member of the Italian parliament and later becoming a Member of the European Parliament. Kakha Kaladze, another Milan great, was the fifth most-capped Georgian player. He shifted to politics after retiring and became a member of Georgian parliament in 2012. Kaladze swiftly climbed the ranks and became Tbilisi’s mayor, retaining the position in subsequent elections.

Hakan Sukur, known for his record-setting World Cup goal in 2002, played mainly for Galatasaray before diving into politics. He was elected to the Turkish parliament in 2011 but faced legal troubles and fled the country, ultimately opening a sports academy in the US. Oleg Blokhin, a Ballon d’Or winner in 1975, played for Dynamo Kyiv and later turned to coaching and politics. He was elected to the Ukrainian parliament in 1998 and served a second term. Romario, a legendary Brazilian striker with a jaw-dropping record of 55 international goals, entered politics in 2010 and was elected to the Brazilian Senate in 2014 with the highest vote count ever for his state. Zico, another Brazilian icon, became the country’s first sports minister in 1990, albeit for a short stint. The role was later held by the legendary Pele. Roman Kosecki, known in the US for his time with Chicago Fire, spent most of his career in Europe. After retiring, he ventured into Polish politics and also ran for the presidency of the Polish Football Association. Kaj Leo Johannesen, a goalkeeper from the Faroe Islands, also switched to politics, becoming the country’s prime minister from 2008 to 2015. While these players have stepped into politics with varied outcomes, their achievements both on and off the field are noteworthy.

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