I'm a former Premier League star who had a hit pop song with a Manchester United coach
FOOTBALLERS are often told to stick to football, but not all of them listen.
Some of them branch out to create clothing lines, charity work, or even… make music.
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Former Premier League star Mario Melchiot did just that when he released “Midas Touch” with two of his teammates in 1998.
Melchiot joined fellow Ajax stars Dean Gorre and Benni McCarthy to release the rap song alongside their on-pitch careers.
All three players continued playing England with Melchiot and McCarthy both spending long spells in the Premier League.
McCarthy is now the first-team coach at Manchester United and assists Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
But during their short journey through the music industry, they still hear their song in stores Holland.
Exclusively Chelsea star Melchiot told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “Even to this day, apparently, when you walk into a store Hollandwill they still play that song.
“H&M for example, I heard, always plays it. It's crazy!”
'And sometimes I go to a bar Hollandand the man behind the bar will see me… and the next one You know, of course, that song comes on!
“It's so funny; you might get used to seeing people walking around in a football shirt with your name on it, but I'll never get used to people singing my song!”
Although the song achieved success in Holland and even when it hit the charts, Jan Wouters – the Ajax boss at the time – was unimpressed by the trio's public appearances to promote the tune.
Melchiot explained: “The only problem was that Ajax was performing so poorly at the time. The coach, Jan Wouters, had to tell us to stop appearing on TV shows and events and concentrate on football!”
Ultimately, the three talents listened to Wouters and started playing football.
Melchiot then played for Chelsea, Birmingham city And Wigan Athletics He also represented the Dutch national team 22 times.
While McCarthy was best known for his days at postage, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham on top of an international career that saw him earn more than 75 caps for South Africa.
Gorre also played some football in the English leagues Huddersfield town, Barnsley and Blackpool.
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