Sam Wardrop revels in a life less ordinary as he becomes TikTok smash hit and falls in love with football again

It's hard enough to get one crack at being a professional footballer.

But to get two bites at the cherry? That takes a special type of determination. And as Sam Wardrop has proved over the last two years out of the game – he’s got that in abundance. Last week, he had a decision to make on where he would resurrect his playing career.

Dubai, Australia or Sweden. That’s not a bad choice for ANY player. But for someone who hasn’t kicked a ball since leaving Airdrie in 2021, it’s testament to the 26-year-old’s resilience. Wardrop started out as a highly-rated young full-back with Celtic and Scotland Under-19s, before moving to Dundee United. Gradually, he dropped down the leagues and eventually became disillusioned with the game he loves.

It was having a negative impact on his mindset so Wardrop bravely walked away. Instead, he took up online coaching and became immersed in social media. Suddenly, a passion for content creation was ignited. And right now, he currently has over 200k followers on TikTok and his videos have 6.5 million likes.

That’s not to mention the 140k Instagram disciples and his X following too. He’s forged a new vocation for himself and, mentally, is at peace again. That’s why he decided to get back playing again. The desire he had as a kid at Celtic was burning once more. But, of course, he now had to do it differently. Through video, he documented his journey, every step of the way.

Wardrop set himself a 365-day challenge to get a pro-contract abroad. And barely halfway through, with THREE offers on the table, he has signed for Swedish third division outfit Ljungskile SK. But as a free agent, how exactly did he go about it? As he reflected on his fascinating return to pro football, Wardrop told MailSport