![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/i-used-to-play-for-man-utd-before-becoming-a-priest-football-and-religion-have-a-lot-in-common/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/crop-20949881.jpg&description=CLERGY TIME I used to play for Man Utd before becoming a priest – football and religion have a lot in common A FORMER Manchester United footballer swapped Fergie for the clergy - and warned fans not to turn supporting their team into a religion. The Northern Irishman, now 45, spent seven years at Old Trafford, coming through the academy to make a handful of first-team appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson. 4 This former Manchester United player is now a Roman Catholic priest Credit: Inpho - For The Times 4 He was ordained in 2017 and now serves in Cork Credit: Collect He made his debut in October 1997 but struggled for game time due to the abundant quality up front and in midfield. His only Premier League appearance for the club came on the final day of the 1997-98 season as United beat Barnsley to finish second behind Arsenal. The player joined Norwich in 1999 but just as his first-team career was finally taking off, he suffered a broken leg. However, the 27-cap Green and White Army international battled back and was a key part of the promotion-winning side in 2003-04. He went on to have spells with Cardiff and Leyton Orient before retiring in 2009 aged 31 after a short stint at King's Lynn. And rather than taking the traditional route into coaching, the footballer stepped away from the game altogether and trained to be a Roman Catholic priest. He once earned £600,000 per year as a pro player but revealed he got "bored" of "the money, the cars, the nightclubs and the attention of women". The mystery footballer who traded the pitch for the pulpit is Philip Mulryne - or to give him his full title, the Reverend Father Philip Mulryne. Fr Mulryne, who grew up in West Belfast, was ordained a priest for the Dominican Order in 2017 and is currently based at St. Mary's Priory Church in Cork. Speaking in 2021, he said that sport was a 'wonderful vehicle for teaching great virtues' but should be kept in perspective and not treated as a religion despite some crossover. Fr Mulryn){kind=link}
A FORMER Manchester United footballer swapped Fergie for the clergy – and warned fans not to turn supporting their team into a religion.
The Northern Irishman, now 45, spent seven years at Old Trafford, coming through the academy to make a handful of first-team appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson.
He made his debut in October 1997 but struggled for game time due to the abundant quality up front and in midfield.
His only Premier League appearance for the club came on the final day of the 1997-98 season as United beat Barnsley to finish second behind Arsenal.
The player joined Norwich in 1999 but just as his first-team career was finally taking off, he suffered a broken leg.