DANIEL AGGER’S retirement is much like his playing career – mixing dirty work and artistry.
Following his premature retirement in 2016, at the age of 31, the former Liverpool hard-man decided to put money into his passion and necessity: tattoos and poop.
Former Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is a qualified tattoo artist
The Danish defender trained to be a tattoo artist and is now part of one of the biggest parlours across the world, called Tattoodo.
But for Agger that was not it, as he had more money to invest in s***.
Now 35, Agger launched a company in 2013 called KloAgger, putting £450,000 into a company that manages sewage systems in Denmark.
So how did they come up with the name? KloAgger translates to ‘Agger toilet’.
Danish defender Agger has also invested in a sewage companyCredit: Kloagger
He runs it alongside his brother Marco and a friendCredit: Kloagger
The name KloAgger translates directly to ‘Toilet Agger’Credit: Kloagger
Agger’s sewage company is only based in his homeland of DenmarkCredit: Kloagger
Agger leaves the daily running of the company to his brotherCredit: Kloagger
Agger is regularly involved with the firm but his younger brother Marco and their friend Rune Rasmussen oversee it day-to-day.
Inked-up Agger is more interested in the tats.
He started and finished his career at Danish club Brondby, and it was as a 15-year-old youth player that he got his first work done.
“I was about 15 and on a school trip to Paris,” Agger said in an interview on Tattoodo’s website.
The 35-year-old is more into his tattoosCredit: Twitter @danielagger
Agger got his first tattoo while a 15-year-old boy on a school tripCredit: Action Images
The former Liverpool centre-back has a vikings graveyard across his backCredit: Getty – Contributor
Agger signed for Liverpool in 2006, brought in by Rafael BenitezCredit: AFP – Getty
He won the Community Shield and League Cup during his 12 years at the clubCredit: PA:Press Association
“It wasn’t something I’d thought about before. Me and a friend went into the shop and said that’s what we’re going to have and we got it. I still have it today.”
But it’s been added to dramatically, with almost every inch of his body containing a tattoo.
There’s the viking graveyard across his back, the love hearts on his calves, Latin proverbs all over his body and the names of his family members etched in.
“I see it as one piece,” Agger, a qualified tattooist, said. “When I speak to people I talk about my tattoo as one piece but obviously every tattoo has a story, some better than others.”
Agger sees his tattoos as just one big art workCredit: Instagram @danielagger22
The Dane is a qualified tattoo artist and invested in a big parlour called TattoodoCredit: Instagram @danielagger22
Agger left Liverpool for Brondby in 2014Credit: PA:Empics Sport
One of the more recent is the ‘YNWA’ stamped onto his knuckles – the well-known Liverpool acronym for Anfield’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.
“Timing was quite good,” Agger said. “[There were] a lot of rumours sending me to another club for a lot of money but I knew I was staying.
“Somehow I wanted to show that to the footballing world and this was a way I wanted to show it.”
Agger did eventually leave Liverpool in 2014 and spent two years at Brondby before ending his career earlier than expected.
Back problems throughout his career saw Agger relying on painkillers to see him through, but he believes they were his downfall.
Agger got YNWA printed onto his knuckles during speculation over his future at LiverpoolCredit: Instagram @danielagger22
Agger wanted to show that he did not plan to leave Anfield
He was part of a strong Liverpool side alongside Steven GerrardCredit: Instagram @danielagger22
Agger retired in 2016 at the age of 31 which he believes was due to painkillersCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
“I have taken too many anti-inflammatories in my career,” he told Jyllands-Posten.
“I know that full well, and it sucks, but I did stop it [in the end]. I am not gaining anything personally from saying this but I can only hope that other athletes do.
“It could be that others take a pill or two less.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk