A former Manchester United player has left behind the fame and luxury of football to become a Catholic priest for a surprising reason.
Philip Mulryne, who once played as a midfielder for Manchester United, has completely changed his life. Now 47 years old, he has chosen a quiet and devoted religious path instead of the excitement of professional football.
Mulryne recently shared why he made this big decision, explaining that there are actually some similarities between being a footballer and living a religious life.
Philip Mulryne’s journey from football to faith
Mulryne played his only Premier League match for Manchester United in 1998, alongside stars like Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole. He went on to have a successful career, earning 27 caps for Northern Ireland and later playing for Norwich City and Cardiff City before retiring in 2008.
Despite earning up to £500,000 a year at his peak, Mulryne grew unhappy with the football lifestyle and felt it wasn’t fulfilling.
Speaking to Belfast Live as per Daily Mail, he reflected on his transition:
“I live in a monastery, so I am more of a monk, really. And it’s not on the surface, but there are a lot of the qualities there.”
He explained that teamwork and discipline-values instilled in him at Manchester United-also play a significant role in monastic life:
“They were saying, sacrifice, giving yourself to something greater than you. In the sense that I live in a community of brothers, there are 15 of us in the monastery. So there is a sense of dependence on each other, the kind of things that Man United taught me.”
Beyond football: Mulryne’s life of priesthood
Mulryne had been unhappy with the football lifestyle for years.
In an interview with Norwich City’s official website, he said:
“Being a footballer is a great privilege, and we have a wonderful life, but over time, I started to feel an emptiness in it.”
His faith became his source of strength, inspiring him to volunteer at a homeless shelter and reconnect with prayer.
In 2009, he joined the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, where he spent years studying philosophy and theology. After years of dedication, he was ordained as a Catholic priest in 2017.
Mulryne has no regrets about leaving football behind. He said, “My calling to the priesthood and religious life came later that year—I felt a deep desire for this path, and I followed it.”
Despite his major career change, he still keeps up with football. His monastery doesn’t have a TV, but he watches match highlights online.
“We have a room with a couple of computers, so I watch the three-minute highlights. That way, I stay updated.”
His journey from professional footballer to priest remains one of the most surprising career shifts in the sport.
