IN today’s world of multi-millionaire players, footy stars are often able to retire to lavish lifestyles without ever working again.
Others will pursue punditry roles, take their coaching badges or look to careers outside the game.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still going strong at AC Milan, aged 41, and says he would like to play until he is 50.
And the evergreen Swede could do worse than take advice from a couple of stars in non-league who have already achieved that feat.
Other players, meanwhile, are still in their 30s, with Prem careers not quite working out as they’d hoped.
Here are seven former Premier League stars still showing what they can do in non-league.
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Mike Williamson, Gateshead
Mike Williamson was an ever-present at centre-back for Newcastle for six years.
He would make 150 Premier League appearances after signing from Portsmouth in 2010.
And he wouldn’t have far to travel to continue his career just over the Tyne Bridge at Gateshead.
At age 39, he is the player-manager of the Tynesiders, who he guided to promotion to the National League last season.
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John Bostock
John Bostock was so highly rated as a 14-year-old at Crystal Palace that he was offered a ten-year deal and signed Ronaldinho poster by Barcelona.
However, he would instead opt for Spurs as he wished to continue his development in London.
Spells in Canada, Belgium, France and Turkey would follow before he settled down at Doncaster last season.
Now at Notts County, he may not be in non-league for long, with the Magpies top of the National League.
Barry Hayles
Barry Hayles fired Fulham to the Premier League in 2001, and then went on to score against Chelsea in the West London derby.
And today he is known for his sheer longevity in the game as he keeps playing at 50.
Seven years ago he helped non-league Chesham United to a shock FA Cup victory at Bristol Rovers – the club where he first made his name.
He now plays for Windsor in the ninth tier of English football.
Jo Tessem
The other over-50 still playing in non-league enjoyed an even more illustrious career than Hayles.
Norway international Jo Tessem spent five uninterrupted years in the Premier League after arriving at Southampton from Molde.
The attacking-midfielder also played in the 2003 FA Cup final, where the Saints were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal.
He now plays at ninth tier Hythe & Dibden and will turn 51 on Tuesday.
Leroy Lita
One of the key men in Steve Coppell’s newly-promoted Reading team which took the Premier League by storm in 2006/07 and almost qualified for Europe.
Neither Lita or Reading would enjoy the same success in the second season as the Royals were relegated.
He would get another chance in the Premier League under Brendan Rodgers during a three-year spell at Swansea between 2011 and 2014.
Now in fine form at 38 with Southern Premier League side Hednesford Town.
Kemy Agustien
Like Leroy Lita, Kemy Agustien experienced of Premier League football at Swansea City.
And also like Leroy Lita, he now plays for Hednesford Town.
However, the 36-year-old has not been a regular in the team after joining from Northern Premier League side Mickleover Sports.
Agustien also has 13 appearances for the Curacao national team.
Kyel Reid
Kyel Reid made three appearances for West Ham between 2005 and his departure in 2009.
He would then move to Sheffield United following loan spells at Barnsley, Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Wolves.
Reid’s most successful spell came in three years at Bradford City, where the winger made 96 league appearances and helped the club to promotion to League One in 2013.
At 35, he now plays for Southern Premier League Beaconsfield Town.
Angelo Balanta
Angelo Balanta was in the QPR squad for their seasons in the Premier League between 2011 and 2013.
However, he spent both campaigns out on loan at MK Dons.
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Spells at Bristol Rovers, Carlisle and Boreham Wood then followed for the Colombian.
At 32, he is now playing in the National League for Dagenham and Redbridge.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
