I signed for Manchester United and was compared to Thierry Henry - now I'm in a fashion magazine

A group of former Premier League players who aren't currently contracted to a club have a WhatsApp group to support each other.

When the phone stops ringing and a professional career comes to an end, some players go into coaching, some work in radio or TV, while others fall out of the game completely. Research has shown that 33 per cent of footballers are divorced within a year of retirement and studies have revealed elite sports people are likely to suffer from a loss of identity.

The footballing wilderness can be difficult to manoeuvre but, thankfully, not for David Bellion - he's found purpose since hanging up his boots and is thriving in his new career. Bellion signed for United from Sunderland in the summer of 2003 and club insiders privately believed Sir Alex Ferguson could transform him into a talent like Thierry Henry.

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Ferguson was blown away when he watched Bellion at an Under-20 youth tournament in Jersey. He later jumped at the chance to sign him on a free transfer.

"This is a dream come true," Bellion said at his unveiling. "I am ambitious and when you want to achieve the best things then you can't ask for more than joining one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"I have a long way to go to make it at United. I have a lot to learn and I will give everything to be a success. It is the biggest challenge of my life but I don't see it as a pressure. It is an exciting prospect to be 20, to be a professional footballer with one of the best in the world and be surrounded by the best players in the world."

A delighted Ferguson said: "It's been