A former Manchester United and England footballer now sells luxury watches for a living – and doesn’t even tell people about his footballing past.
Kieran Richardson has had an impressive career that began at Old Trafford before moving to Sunderland, Fulham, Aston Villa and Cardiff City.
He was capped eight times for England, playing under the guidance of Sven Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren, narrowly missing out on a place in the 2006 World Cup squad.
He retired quite early at the age of 33 and Since then he has devoted himself to another passion: wristwatches.
Richardson, 39, now travels the world selling luxury watches, but he refuses to use his football experience to win over customers.
“Every time I meet someone new, I don’t even say I was a footballer anymore, I just say I sell watches for a living,” Richardson told Ladbrokes Fanzone exclusively.
“Where I come from, in the business world, most people don’t even really know football.
If I met someone now and they asked me who I am or what I do, I would just say that I sell high-value watches worldwide.
“After that, maybe more people will go on a Google search and see my football career, and then it will continue from there.
In fact, a football career is really beneficial because it gives people a sense of confidence.
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“I feel like my clients do really trust me, and so they should.
The football background definitely helps, for sure.
But, obviously, you still need to be knowledgeable about the product, and know what you’re talking about.
Luckily enough, I’ve been doing watches for a long time now, so I’m quite savvy on them, even though I’m still trying to learn more every day.
”Richardson was happy to slip out of football quietly and look to the future.
He added:
“I’ve never been the kind of guy to go and make a song and dance out of my retirement.
I really don’t care, to be honest.
I had a great career, I enjoyed it, but now I’ve moved on.
“When I was a kid, I had hobbies, right?
Football was always my number one, but my second was watches.
I always loved watches.
My father was into watches, I was into watches, and throughout my career I’d always be buying – and learning about – new watches.
I just happen to have left one hobby, and gone into another one, that’s how I see it.
I still feel like I’m living the same life.
It’s crazy.
“I’m really, really blessed to be in a position where I don’t call my work, my work.
Even when I was a footballer, it never felt like work to me, it was something that I loved.
It’s probably why I didn’t come out and say I’d retired, because I don’t feel like I have retired.
I always do something I love.
“I turn 39 next week.
Honestly, time flies.
I remember that year I was 19 years old and next year I will be 40 years old.
It’s funny how time passes.
But I feel blessed.
I’ve got a great family, and I’m very happy.
I must be having fun, because time’s going really quick.
