NOW here’s a good way to unwind from the pressures of the game.
These footballers like to spend their downtime by relaxing with a spot of fishing.
Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Memphis Depay, John Terry and Sergio Aguero have been known to dangle their rods into lake and sea hoping to catch a bite.
While former England heroes Gazza and David Seaman also fancy themselves as fisherman.
Let SunSport give you a guide to the best anglers in football.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo must know a thing or two about fishing coming from Madeira.
The Portuguese city is the capital of sport fishing, where a keen fisher will look to catch marlin, wahoo and giant bluefin tuna.
That’ll make a lovely seafood stew, for sure.
Sergio Aguero
You wouldn’t have guessed that the Man City forward loves to angle.
Back in 2014, the Argentine took up fishing when he was out injured and he still hasn’t given up his favourite pastime.
The 33-year-old, who retired in December because of heart problems, caught a whopper on a recent trip to Esquina in the Argentinian province of Corrientes.
David Beckham
Never one to miss out, Becks showed off his greatest catch in 2016.
The Manchester United legend posted this image on Instagram fly fishing and catching a Icelandic Salmon.
He’s also been known to be a fan of sea and coarse fishing.
Memphis Depay
When he was a young boy, playing football wasn’t his only love.
At the age of 10 he loved joining his grandfather Keas Schensema for fishing trips in Moordrecth.
He even managed a small catch in this throwback pic.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic, now of AC Milan, probably considers himself to be the best fisherman in the world.
And with this pike catch, few would argue that he’s got angling skills too.
Ibra boasts his own private fishing lake at home in Sweden, while he also has a tattoo of a koi carp on his back.
Lee Bowyer
The former Charlton and Leeds United hero loves a tackle off the field as much as he did on it.
The Birmingham City boss runs his own carp fishing lake named ‘Etang de Bows’ in France, which he bought in 2014.
Maybe that’s what’s calmed him down over the years!
Robin Van Persie
While on holiday in Turkey in 2015, the former United star took his family fishing.
Unbelievably, his bait managed to catch a shark while he was deep sea fishing.
He wrote on Facebook: “Unaware this was going to be our best fishing day ever!!!
“What a catch! Nobody got hurt and of course we released the shark.”
Tony Hibbert
Ex-Everton full-back Hibbert is so obsessed with fishing he now makes a business out of it.
In 2013, he bought the 33-acre Lac de Premiere, a carp fishery in the village of Villiers-en-Prayeres, northern France.
And since retiring from the beautiful game in 2016, he’s devoted his time in running a venue welcoming fisherman from all over the world.
John Terry
Now that he’s retired, he’ll have more time on his hands for one of his favourite hobbies.
The Chelsea legend loves carp, which is why he built a lake in the grounds of his mansion.
Who needs Fortnite?
Bobby Zamora
JT’s close pal, Bobby Zamora, has been a huge admirer of fishing for a long time.
The ex-QPR and West Ham striker, who is now a club ambassador at Brighton, loves a Bobby dazzler – with his biggest catch a 39lb 12oz carp.
David Seaman
The Arsenal and England legend might be football’s best angler, having done it for most of his life.
Safe Hands, as he was nicknamed, was skilled at everything from fly to coarse fishing.
Surely he’s never been left flapping by the river bank?
Paul Gascoigne
Last, but certainly not least, Gazza often went on trips with Seaman during Euro 96 on the advice of manager Terry Venables.
But famously, Gascoigne fell off jetty into a lake near their team hotel before the Spain game in his full England team tracksuit.
Cue fits of laughter from the former England stopper as his mate asked him to pull him out.
If only we were a fly on the water.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
