REVEALED: Fancy helping me feed the squirrels? What Premier League stars do in their spare time

30 March 2009 12:38
We've had Cristiano Ronaldo and his 'CR7' boutiques, Andrey Arshavin dabbling in fashion design and, of course, King Eric and his sideline in poetry. But what else do Barclays Premier League footballers get up to in their spare time? Apart from expensive evenings spent wining, dining and, inevitably, getting into trouble outside nightclubs at 3am, it seems top flight players enjoy a host of hobbies to fill the time between matches. Busy boy: Cristiano Ronaldo has plenty going on away from the football field According to the latest edition of Nuts - on sale tomorrow - Manchester United have an aspiring drummer, a bingo enthusiast and a wildlife fancier in their ranks, while two Hull City players indulge in the more cultured pastimes of horse riding and art after the final whistle blows. One of Rafa Benitez's Liverpool players is a qualified tattoo artist and Wigan boss Steve Bruce must be worried sick every time he gives his squad a few days off - one Latics player has a penchant for extreme sports. Loose: Tim Cahill has fallen in love with yoga Joseph Yobo According to his personal website, David Moyes' first Everton signing is a dab hand at table tennis. He also runs a charitable foundation to help underprivileged communities in Nigeria's Niger Delta region. And we thought he was just a no-nonsense defender... Tim Cahill Yobo's team-mate, Tim Cahill, has been practising pilates for 18 months and took up yoga three months ago. 'It helps me to loosen up,' he said. Paul Scharner 'I do things outside football such as parachuting, bungee jumpingand water-skiing to help me become strong mentally,' said the Austriadefender. The jury's out on that one... Daniel Agger Liverpool's Denmark international is a qualified tattoo artist. Agger boasts a Viking design with the motto 'Memento mori' ('Remember you will die') on his right arm and a band on his left elbow, together with a number of other designs. Nice. Manuel Almunia The Arsenal goalkeeper harbours an interest in Second World War sites after getting hooked when watching Saving Private Ryan. 'I read history books, watch documentaries and I like to visit museums when I can,' he said. Dimitar Berbatov When the striker joined Spurs he said he spent his spare time feeding squirrels from the balcony of his flat. 'My apartment block's surrounded by fences,' he added, 'so people can't bother me.' So he could sulk in peace, then. Sam Ricketts The Hull City defender enjoys nothing more than horse riding, having been inspired by his father, Derek Ricketts, the 1978 world show jumping champion, and his uncle, John Francome, a national hunt champion jockey. 'I've been riding more or less since I was born,' Ricketts said. Wayne Rooney Poor Coleen. It seems Wayne has taken up the drums after deciding it would suit his style better than the guitar. At least Fabio Capello will be happy Rooney can work out the 'crazy' side of his aggressive nature on a drum kit. As opposed to the corner flag. Caleb Folan The Hull City striker enjoys painting in his spare time, having indulged his creative nature by dabbling in fashion design at first. 'It helps take my mind off football,' he said - and it probably helps ease the pain of living near Hull. Cristiano Ronaldo The Manchester United winger may have a host of super cars to his name, but it's a game of bingo that really gets his blood racing. 'It's exciting because you can be there waiting a long time for just the one number to win,' he said.

Source: Daily_Mail