10 Footballers Who Would Make 'Great' Politicians

When it comes time to retire, most high-profile footballers probably don't consider becoming a politician when it comes to choosing their next career move.

Amidst all those who move into the media, management and business, among other things, there have been a select few to move into politics.

Of the more notable ex-players to choose this path, the 1995 Ballon d'Or winner, George Weah, unsuccessfully ran for the Liberian Presidency, while France and Juventus legend Michel Platini has successfully worked his way through the corridors of power at UEFA.

But of the current crop, is there anyone suited to making the transition from the football pitch to serving a constituency with all the power and pressure that comes with it?

Well, unless they happen to reveal so is something they are actually interested in, it is difficult to tell if any of them harbour such ambitions! Nonetheless here are ten footballers, who from what we have learnt from their performances on match-day to their personalities off it, might find themselves right at home in public service.

Some listed here are done so firmly tongue in-cheek, but a few might do well to consider a job in government when they eventually hang up their boots.

Javier Zanetti

There are few footballers who typify loyalty, longevity and hard-work quite like Javier Zanetti. The 37 year-old has been at Inter Milan since 1995, leading them through some frustrating seasons before they would go onto enjoy one of the greatest periods in the club's history.

You can imagine these are the kind of qualities the Argentinian might exhibit as a politician too.

Any of us would be delighted to find in the politicians that represent us the kind of service Zanetti has given to his cause. Reliably getting his work done on a consistent basis, helping to achieve the results to make things better.

The kind of leader we can believe in.

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry is a smooth operator if ever there was one.

From his flowing, exhilarating style of football to his stylish, off the pitch persona typified by those 'Va-Va-Voom' adverts for the Renault car company.

In 2009, following the infamous World Cup qualifier handball against Republic of Ireland, the Frenchman faced his greatest public relations challenge. Henry initially celebrated the goal it led to, then after the match could be seen empathising with a crestfallen Richard Dunne like he knew what he was going through.

Henry's pivoting on the issue in the days following the match would make the trickiest of politicians proud. That he has managed to come out of the incident with, despite the initial backlash, his reputation relatively intact suggests he might have a talent for handling the scrutiny faced in the political world.

Landon Donovan

The poster boy of United States soccer, Landon Donovan could be carried into office on a wave of popularity. While his marriage ended in divorce, Donovan is still representative of the talented and all-round dependable American boy.

Donovan has years of exemplary service for his country, representing them in some of their finest moments on the world stage. He is without doubt a key reason in the improvements made on the football pitch in recent years.

The LA Galaxy midfield is also knowledgeable in foreign affairs, spells in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, and in England with Everton, meaning he is more than versed in dealing with America's friends in Europe.

Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba could be a very talented politician if his performances on the pitch are anything to go by.

The Ivorian forward's tough, uncompromising stance in dealing with defenders could be replicated in a forceful pushing through of legislation. While his tendency to dive and play act to win free-kicks suggests he is not the sort of person to be afraid to bend the rules from time to time when needs must!

In all seriousness, Drogba has shown himself to be a sympathetic and keen observer to the needs of his countrymen and fellow Africans.

The Didier Drogba Foundation 'aims to provide financial and material support in both health and education to the African people'. Through this the 33 year-old has been involved in projects that have included the building of hospitals while his work as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme indicate a genuine interest in giving back.

David Beckham

David Beckham has often made a point of his continued level of fitness, so retirement for the LA Galaxy midfielder may be a little way off yet.

Still, for a while now there has been some discussion over what will come next in the life of one of the superstars of soccer.

Beckham is one of the world's richest sportsmen, and though their have been brief flirtations with coaching, it is difficult to see him going into management. While some involvement in the media could be a goer, there is a genuine possibility that politics and public service may me a route Beckham goes down.

While the daily issues of government might not be quite glamorous enough for one of football's most high-profile names, running and fronting his own foundation might appeal to Beckham.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has a personality that has made him loved around the world, that coupled with his own sizable wealth, would allow him to reach the hearts and minds of many fans willing to hear what he says.

It is a considerable power that, should Beckham have a chosen cause, would allow him to influence or even bypass those with the power to make decisions.

Watch this space.

Antonio Cassano

Without meaning to tarnish all Italian politicians with the same brush, there is a general air of disorganisation and mayhem about the country's government that suggest a charismatic but flawed person such as Antonio Cassano might well flourish in such an environment.

In the form of his AC Milan club president Silvio Berlusconi, Cassano certainly has a mentor of sorts should he ever decide to involve himself in politics.

The two share a similar penchant for creating controversy wherever they go and an admitted and well documented love of women. Cassano has rarely been out of the public eye in his football career, maybe post-retirement he will follow in his president's footsteps into 'public service'.

The court cases and tell-all stories in the press would surely not be far behind!

Rio Ferdinand

With Rio Ferdinand currently seeking damages in court over newspapers stories about his private life, not to mention a drink-driving conviction and the lengthy ban he received in 2004 for missing a drugs test, the eventful career of the England international might not suggest he is ideal for a career in politics.

But as we all know, many politicians have dealt with such issues and some have come back from worse.

Ferdinand is also one of the most ambitions footballers in England. Not just in his on the pitch aspirations, but in his involvement in television, his own magazine and developing films.

The Manchester United player is someone who has looked to maintain links with his roots in Peckham, London. Perhaps it is not out of the question that the next string he adds to his bow is as a politician.

Scott Parker

Good old Scott Parker. The hard-working heart of the West Ham midfield, eternally committed even when those layabouts and foreigners around him aren't pulling their wait...

....or maybe not!

Parker's reputation has grown in recent times, perceived as one of the few West Ham players not to be letting the Upton Park faithful down.

It is a misconception, characterised by the needs of West Ham fans and admirers of the club to have a hero full of the qualities they held so dear in players like Bobby Moore. Instead he is a decent player, but one no better than the many workmanlike players who give their all every weekend of the football season.

If Parker ever decided to run for office in England he would probably get elected, by a landslide. His campaign as the good, honest public servant to bring pride back to the working class masses would see him there.

Invariably the realisation that he doesn't have much more up his sleeve would bring the inevitable disappointment. But English voters are used to that!

Gokhan Inler

A big part of politics is the spectacle and razzmatazz designed to help get the public excited, whether it be the showy introduction of an election campaign or a trick to liven up an otheriwse mundane policy announcement.

New Napoli signee Gokhan Inler was reportedly persuaded by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis to put on the lion mask that he wore for what must be one of the strangest introductory press conferences of all time.

Switzerland international Inler might not have been the brains behind this particular stunt, but he showed he certainly has somewhat of a flare for these types of introduction.

If a career in politics ever appeals to him, then at least this experience will give him some ideas on how to separate him and his policies from the crowd.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi plays for Barcelona, and they obviously play in Spain's La Liga, not in the Copa America and World Cup like his birth nation Argentina do, but bear with me.

If Messi went into politics you might imagine it would go a little like his football career.

A talented and astute manager of domestic issues and policy (i.e. at Barcelona), but unable to make a mark with his country on the world stage. Sounds familiar...

...sorry Lionel!

At the time of writing Messi and Argentina's Copa America is not yet over. Even if it does not happen this time around, you wouldn't bet against Messi finally finding a way to make his country an international presence once again.