FORMER Premier League star Esteban Granero lives a very different life after retiring from football.
The 36-year-old spent one season playing for QPR, where he played 24 times under Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp.
Granero’s biggest success came in the previous three years at Real Madrid, where he won a LaLiga title and Spanish Cup.
But after also spending time at Getafe, Real Sociedad and Espanyol, he called it a day in 2021 after playing for second-tier Marbella.
And following his retirement, Granero now runs his very own AI company.
The ex-midfielder founded Olocip in 2016 as he explored ways of using artificial intelligence to help the beautiful game.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Granero’s company uses data to help make big calls on transfers and in-game decisions.
He now provides 40 clubs with cutting-edge AI technology – including one team in the Championship and another in the Premier League.
Granero told The Standard: “I took the data and started asking clever people about it.
“I went to universities and asked professors about artificial intelligence, as I felt AI could improve data analysis, as in other industries.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
“We’ve been developing for years. Now the AI wave is coming – we see AI applications worldwide in every industry – we are taking advantage of what we’ve been building.
“For years, we were struggling to make people understand how AI can improve analysis of data. Now people come to us.
“AI will bring efficiency in decision making at a club, not only in sports science but economics, the development of a club, fan engagement, ticketing, marketing services. It will bring efficiencies in everything.”
Such is the growing role of AI in football that a different company has created a candidate to run against Gianni Infantino for Fifa president.
‘Hope Sogni’ is an AI character from sports agency Dark Horses, who can engage in real-time conversation and even has her own manifesto.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
