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Who are some famous football players or coaches that also practice fencing?

Alec Luxton

Well, well, well! This question has piqued my interest. Football and fencing, two seemingly unrelated sports, yet there are famous players and coaches who participate in both. Let's dive in and discover who they are.

First up, we have none other than Arsene Wenger. Yes, you read that right, the legendary Arsenal coach. Apart from being an iconic figure in football, Wenger is a skilled fencer. In fact, he took up fencing during his youth and continued practicing it throughout his life. He even participated in the 2012 Olympic torch relay, demonstrating his fencing skills in front of thousands of spectators.

Next, we have the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimović. Known for his incredible football skills and larger than life personality, Zlatan is also an avid fencer. He started fencing at a young age and continued to practice it as a hobby. In fact, he even incorporated fencing into his training regime, believing that it helped him improve his footwork and agility on the pitch.

Moving on, we have a legendary footballer who is also an Olympic medalist in fencing. It's none other than Enzo Francescoli! This Uruguayan footballer made a name for himself in the 80s and 90s, playing for top teams like River Plate and Marseille. But what many people don't know is that he also has a bronze medal in fencing, which he won at the 1971 Pan American Games.

Last but not least, we have a football coach who is also a successful fencing coach. It's none other than Giovanni Trapattoni. This Italian coach is known for his successful stints with teams like Juventus and the Italian national team. But what many people don't know is that he is also a skilled fencing coach. He started coaching fencing in the 80s and even coached the Italian fencing team at the 1984 Olympics.

So there you have it, folks! Famous football players and coaches who also practice fencing. Who knew that these two sports had such a deep connection? It just goes to show that you can excel in multiple areas if you put your mind to it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to look up football/fencing hybrids and see if that's a thing. Who knows, maybe we'll have a new sport on our hands!