Phil Mulryne: Former Man United Star Who Quit Football Now A Priest

Former Manchester United player Phil Mulryne is now working as a Roman Catholic priest years after he quit the beautiful game.

 Mulryne came through the ranks of the Man United academy, where he started out as a budding midfielder. 

According to the Daily Star, the former midfielder made his debut for the Red Devils in 1997 before he quit the club two years later after he failed to break into the first team. 

The former Nothern Ireland international went on to join Norwich City, where his career fared well with more than 170 appearances for the Canaries and 20 goals to his name. 

Despite the fortunes that came with Mulryne being a footballer, the now 44-year-old made the decision of quitting the game. 

Phil Mulryne becomes priest 

Mulryne is understood to have transitioned into priesthood after his retirement in 2009 aged 31. 

Happy 43rd Birthday to ex-Red, The Reverend Fr Philip Mulryne OP. Midfielder Phil was in the #MUFC youth side in 1992, & from 1996-9 played 5 senior games. He appeared 27 times for N. Ireland, scoring 3 times. At 31 he became a Catholic priest, becoming a Dominican Friar in 2016 pic.twitter.com/FpmviOWd9d

— Gadabout United🎙🇬🇫🇾🇪 (@GadaboutU) January 1, 2022

It is understood that the ex-midfielder resolved to swap the boots for the Bible as he was uncomfortable with the attention he got from women and the huge amount of money he earned became 'boring.' 

The former player, who also turned out for Cardiff City and Leyton Orient spoke candidly about his transition. 

“We have a wonderful life as a footballer and I was very privileged, but I found with all the surrounding stuff that eventually there was a kind of emptiness with it," he said via Daily Star. 

Talking of Phil Mulryne on the who have you met thread, is there another former City player with a more stark change of career than him? pic.twitter.com/fgnV9GzyWD

— Bluebirds Past (@BluebirdsPast) January 3, 2020

"I started going back to mass and I started praying again on a regular basis. I just found a real sense of fulfilment with it," he added. 

Mulryne was ordained a priest for the Dominican Order in 2017 and currently oversees a congregation at St. Mary's Priory Church in Cork in Ireland. 

Source: SportsBrief