Man Utd star swapped Theatre of Dreams for House of God by becoming a priest

dailystar.co.uk:

Manchester United star Philip Mulryne.While most ex-professional footballers move into management or progress into punditry after hanging up their boots, that lifestyle isn't for everyone.Sometimes it's better to follow your heart and have a little faith.

And that's exactly what former Northern Ireland international Mulryne did.Having been handed a United debut by none other than Sir Alex Ferguson, and carved out a credible career in the beautiful game, the midfielder grew disillusioned before answering the calls of Christ.After swapping Premier League stadia for the seminary, the former United man trained as a Roman Catholic priest following retirement, and although he's now relishing an altogether different career, Mulryne credits his former sport as a "wonderful vehicle for teaching great virtues".Speaking on St Patrick’s Podcast, Fr Mulryne also revealed that football and religion possess more parallels than you would think, especially when it comes to worship."Even the word religion comes from the latin religare - to bind, to rebind yourself," the ex-Red Devil declared. "That’s what we are doing when we practice our religion towards God.

We bind ourselves to God and Him to us.HAVE YOUR SAY! Which former footballer has taken the most bizarre career path following retirement?

Comment below."In a sense people bind themselves together into a particular club and so it is a form of worship in some way."Born in Belfast, the midfielder was snapped up by United at the age 14 and was a member of club's FA Youth Cup winning side of 1995 alongside a certain Phil Neville.A Northern Ireland senior call-up arrived before Mulryne had even made his first team debut, but after showing early promise with United, the versatile.