It's often an easy dream in football – get to the top, make a lot of money, win trophies, and bask in the spotlight. However, for former Manchester United player Philip Mulryne, the place he was headed was a place hardly any footballers could have envisioned.
Having lived the life of a professional footballer, Premier League success and the wealth that accrued from the professional football world, Mulryne eventually left football behind and took a completely new road and journey – the Catholic priesthood.
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Manchester United's initial campaign was promising.
Philip Mulryne was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 1st, 1978, and grew up to be a skilled midfielder who joined Manchester United's youth system.
He was surrounded by the best young talent in England football at Old Trafford. He was a member of the 'David Beckham Generation', which included players like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.
It took a huge step for Mulryne to make the break into Sir Alex Ferguson's first team, but he had a huge assist in helping Manchester United's youth team win the FA Youth Cup in 1995.
However, the competition for the midfield positions is really hot and eventually, Mulryne found himself moving on to look for regular first team football.
Has started to find his feet at Norwich City
Mulryne joined Norwich City in 1999 and was to become an important first team player.
His days at Norwich were most important in his career. He appeared more than 150 times for the club, helping them to a promotion to the Premier League in 2004.
To get to the Premier League was a huge goal for a Northern Irish player.
Mulryne also played for Northern Ireland, having made 27 appearances for the country from 1997-07.
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The Lifestyle of a Professional Footballer
Mulryne enjoyed many of the rewards of professional football at the peak of his career.
He made a lot of money, had a good living and was a star athlete.
His ability to earn around €500,000 a season was reported, showing the radical switch in his life.
However, in spite of the wealth and the footballing opportunities, eventually, Mulryne started to ask himself whether the lifestyle was providing him with the fulfilment he desired.
A Different Calling
Following his retirement from professional football in 2008, Mulryne's life slowly turned out to be an amazing one.
He learned to think differently when he was involved with charitable work, such as visiting the homeless. He started to study his Catholic beliefs more in depth, and ended up becoming drawn to a vocation in the religious life.
Rather than continue playing football or just put on the sidelines, Mulryne chose to take up the academic study of philosophy and theology.
Then he became a member of the Dominican Order, known as the Order of Preachers.
A dramatic turnaround.
The ex-professional footballer, who had once walked onto the Premier League pitches, was now preparing himself to a life of faith and service.
The making of his boots to the manufacture of his priests.
Mulryne's decision to become a priest was not an instant one. It was a process of years of study, formation and preparation.
He joined the Order of Dominicans and studied with the Dominicans before he was ordained to the diaconate.
In July 2017, Philip Mulryne was ordained as a Catholic Priest in Dublin.
His ordination was depicted in pictures which was a stark contrast to his previous life.
He used to pursue football aspirations on some of Britain's largest pitches years before. He was now in front of an assembly in a priestly garment and was starting a new phase of his life.
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A second career that is remarkable.
Mulryne's story is quite a fascinating one not only because a footballer could be a priest, but because of the vast difference between the two worlds.
Sports offer fame, fortune, travel and public recognition for the professionals.
The religious life, on the other hand, focuses on service, discipline, faith and simplicity.
Mulryne went with the latter.
He has addressed the role football plays in his life, but that he eventually found something greater than the game.
His journey is not about giving up on football but about finding his new life after football.
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