Professional soccer undoubtedly has the potential to yield substantial financial gains, particularly when reaching the pinnacle of the sport. However, an alumnus of Manchester City’s academy has demonstrated that wealth can also come post-career.
Reece Wabara successfully progressed from the academy to the first team but saw limited playing time, often being loaned out to lower-tier English clubs such as Ipswich Town, Oldham Athletic, Blackpool, and Doncaster Rovers.
In 2014, Wabara made a permanent move to Doncaster, followed by a transfer to Barnsley a year later.
His professional journey concluded at Wigan and Bolton. In 2017, at the age of 26, Wabara made the pivotal decision to retire from soccer.
With a clear vision for his future, Wabara redirected his efforts towards establishing his own fashion brand.
In 2013, while still a soccer player, Wabara allocated £15,000 to launch the clothing line Maniere De Voir on the advice of Lewis Morgan, one of the Gymshark founders. Despite their shared educational background, their relationship had since faded.
A decade later, Wabara’s fashion venture boasts an annual revenue nearing £35 million, attracting prominent figures like British boxer Anthony Joshua and footballer Raheem Sterling.
Reflecting on his journey in a 2021 interview with The Times, Wabara recalled the uncertainties during his tenure at Manchester City and his father’s counsel to secure his financial future, prompting him to establish MDV. His inaugural collection in 2013, comprising joggers, T-shirts, and sweatshirts, received acclaim from fellow footballers.
Driven by a desire for sartorial excellence and influenced by Morgan’s guidance, Wabara ventured into the fashion industry.
Now 32, Wabara serves as a testament to the lucrative prospects of fashion entrepreneurship, surpassing the earnings of even the most prominent football stars in top-tier leagues.
