Adebayo Akinfenwa reveals his next big career change for after retiring from football, with talks already underway, it’s claimed.
The 38 year old Wycombe Wanderers forward is ready to hang up his boots after one more season as he plots his next venture.
Akinfenwa’s professional breakthrough came at Doncaster Rovers, after having up spells with Rushden & Diamonds, Leyton Orient, Boston United, Barry Town and FK Atlantas.
Following a short but successful time at the South Yorkshire outfit, Akinfenwa moved to his seventh club, Torquay United and that’s where he proved to be a goal threat, however left the struggling team the following season to join Swansea City.
After spending two seasons with the Welsh club, he joined then-League One side Millwall and later moved to Northampton Town.
Akinfenwa spent six years switching from Northampton to Gillingham, where his goal-scoring ability was still apparent. In June 2014, he signed for then-League Two side AFC Wimbledon, and two years later found himself at Wycombe Wanderers. That’s where he’s been since 2016 on what was initially a one-year contract.
In April 2018, he was nominated for the EFL League Two Player of the Season award and just over a year latest in May 2019, was offered a new contract by Wycombe, which he accepted on 12 June.
With his strike against Doncaster Rovers on the 29th of February 2020, Akinfenwa became Wycombe’s record goal scorer in the English football league with 54 goals.
On the 13th of July 2020, Akinfenwa and Wycombe won the 2020 League One playoff final over Oxford United gaining promotion to the Championship for the first time in both the player’s career and the club’s history. Akinfenwa finished the season as the club’s joint-top league goal scorer with 10 goals.
Akinfenwa signed a one-year contract extension with Wycombe on the 16th of July 2020, scoring once in 35 appearances as the Chairboys bravely fought for survival, only to have relegation all but confirmed at the weekend.
The much loved player scored his first ever Championship goal on Wednesday night to keep his club’s unlikely survival bid alive, but now he’s looking to the future.
Speaking on the UMM Youtube channel, he said: “I don’t want to be a manager, I don’t want to be a coach.
“I’ve given two decades to football. I’m 39 next month. I’m at the transitional stage.
“Exclusive out here, I think I’m going to play on one more year. Then look, you know what, it’s funny.
“We’re talking to a couple of producers in LA, there’s a couple of movie projects.
“Then also, there are also talks with WWE. I reckon I’d be a good wrestler.
“I’ve always been able to live my life where nobody has put me in a box, so that’s how it is, I’m excited for the future.”
Akinfenwa weighs around 100kg (15st 7lbs) and is rumoured to be able to bench press 200kg.
In October, when he first confirmed talks with WWE chief Vince McMahon, Akinfenwa was asked which footballers he’d like to take on in a Royal Rumble.
He said: “In terms of a Royal Rumble that’s something I’d want to win obviously – and there’s some tough lads out there, you know.
“VVD [Virgil van Dijk] is in there all day long and [Adama] Traore of course. [Sebastian] Haller has to be in too, he’s a very strong guy, then there’s the likes of Troy Deeney and [Michael] Antonio.
“Whoever I haven’t mentioned they can get at me later, but I back myself 100 per cent!”
BAYO’S FOOTBALL CAREER:
Youth career
2000–2001 – Watford
Senior career
2001–2002 – FK Atlantas
2003 – Barry Town
2003 – Boston United
2003 – Leyton Orient
2003–2004 – Rushden & Diamonds
2004 – Doncaster Rovers – 9 games (4 goals)
2004–2005 – Torquay United – 37 games (14 goals)
2005–2007 – Swansea City – 59 games (14 goals)
2007–2008 – Millwall – 7 games (0 goals)
2008–2010 – Northampton Town – 88 games (37 goals)
2010–2011 – Gillingham – 44 games (11 goals)
2011–2013 – Northampton Town – 80 games (34 goals)
2013–2014 – Gillingham – 34 games (10 goals)
2014–2016 – AFC Wimbledon – 83 games (19 goals)
2016– Wycombe Wanderers – 185 games (47 goals)
Fans reacted as Akinfenwa reveals a potential big career change for after retiring from football…
adexcrown_furniture: Can’t to see u in wwe bro
_matara._: The Almighty Akinfenwa😂🙌🔥
big6g: Do it!!
lucka.038: Man you would destroy everyone
ninimymon: F*ck this modern dance you’re an athlete, go beat people up in mma when you retire from football! And always go to the ring with a lfc Jersey;)
oluwa_buggatti: @realakinfenwa beast mode 🙌🙌🙌
fatchef1978: That would be awesome
joekimmel: no way haha can’t wait for this
rhianlad: imagine seeing Akinfenwa in WWE, gunna be jokes
woydie: What a guy

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