Homepage

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
Popular content on our site
Prepare to “Find Your Greatness” as search for UK's future athletes gets underway The National Lottery operator Allwyn launches ChangeMakers fund for athletes as they make a difference back home Breadth of success targeted as British Olympic and Paralympic performance aspirations confirmed for Paris Investing in sport Strategic plan 2021-31
News

England World Cup Squad: Could the talents of the players hoping to make the final 23 have helped them reach the podium in another sport?

Published 27 May 2010

As Fabio Capello looks to make his final selections for the England squad that will head out to contest the World Cup in South Africa, the UK Talent Team have been considering how the football players’ talents on the pitch could have been put to good use in other Olympic sports if their football careers hadn’t worked out.

Ian Yates of the UK Talent Team, outlines some of the key attributes of some of England’s potential line-up and how they could have transferred their talents into other Olympic sports.

David James – Handball: “David’s 6’5” build, long limbs and brilliant reactions make him a great goalkeeper, which would transfer well into other sports requiring a keeper such as Handball. Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel started in Handball prior to committing to professional football.”

Michael Dawson and Ledley King – Canoeing: “Since both are over 6ft, powerful and show good core stability they could make good Canoeists, providing they could match Tim Brabants’ bench pull of over 120 kilos. Having played well together for Tottenham they could have the type of partnership needed in a K2 boat.”

Tom Huddlestone – Rowing: “Tom’s 6’3’’ build makes him a great candidate for rowing. His height, broad-shoulders and long arms gives him a perfect body type for the sport. This matched with his large aerobic capacity as a central midfield player could make Tom a great rower.”

Joe Cole – Hockey: “Joe came out as the fittest all-round player in Chelsea FC’s latest fitness tests. He also has great visual and spacial awareness, allowing him to read the game and exploit opportunities on the pitch. This skill-set could serve him well in the midfield of a Hockey team.”

Theo Walcott – Bob Skeleton:  “Theo’s blistering acceleration would certainly transfer well onto the track in athletics and if he could run 30m in under four seconds his talent could be put to good use on the ice, where a quick start is essential for bob skeleton.”

James Milner – Athletics: “As a midfield player James’ ability to cover a lot of ground during 90-minutes and yet still have enough in the tank for that all important short burst, could make him a strong middle distance runner. Football players tend to cover a similar distance (30km – 40km) every week in matches and training as middle distance runners would.”

Peter Crouch – Volleyball: “At 6’7”, Peter’s height lends itself to volleyball. He would certainly have the size to be a successful middle blocker as his total reach is likely to be over 2.5m. This along with a strong ability in the air could see him prevent a lot of opponents scoring points.”

Wayne Rooney – Cycling: “Wayne’s explosive power, speed and natural aggression would equip him well for a sport like track cycling. These attributes should see him produce the level of cadence and wattage required, but whether he could match the kind of power that Sir Chris Hoy can crank out during a six-second bike test, over 2000 watts, is another question!”

The UK Talent Team is a working collaboration between UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport with the remit of supporting the National Governing Bodies of targeted Olympic and Paralympic sports to identify, confirm and develop talented athletes.  

‘Pitch2Podium’ is an exciting talent transfer programme created by the UK Talent Team and our partners within the football and rugby authorities, to provide young football and rugby players who have been unsuccessful in securing a professional contract, with a second chance opportunity to succeed in a new Olympic sport.  Talent transfer is the re-assignment of athletes across sports which have similar and transferable talent characteristics

Find out more about the work of the UK Talent Team, or for football and rugby academy players interested in Pitch2Podium.

Share
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

News

Participants of the UK Sport Athlete To Coach programme taking part in a fireside conversation
UK Sport launches new programmes to support coaching across the high-performance community
21 May 2025
Headshot of Professor Nick Webborn CBE
Professor Nick Webborn CBE appointed new Chair of UK Sport
19 May 2025
Decoration image with the logos of UK Sport and Weirdo
Transforming fan experience: UK Sport introduces new engagement strategies for Olympic and Paralympic sports
15 May 2025
Looking to work in sport?
Find or advertise sports jobs in the UK
Search now
Our funders
  • Funded by UK Government
  • TNL partners
Who we work with
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • Logo of the UK Sports Institute
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
  • Logo of the British Elite Athletes Association
  • Logo for UK Coaching
  • Logo of Sport Resolutions
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About us
  • Our work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • Website terms and privacy policy
  • Editorial policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of Information
  • Welsh language scheme
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
6th Floor
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2025