Former Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer has opened up on leaving behind his career as a pundit to become a builder.
The ex-Denmark international joined the Blues from Ajax for a £7.8million fee in 2000, and went on to spend four years at Stamford Bridge.
Gronkjaer helped secure Chelsea Champions League football in 2003, scoring the winner on the final day of the season against Liverpool
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Gronkjaer helped secure Chelsea Champions League football in 2003, scoring the winner on the final day of the season against LiverpoolCredit: Getty
During this time, he made 119 appearances and scored 11 goals, before spells at Birmingham City, Atletico Madrid and Stuttgart.
Gronkjaer finished his playing days back in Denmark with Copenhagen, and hung up his boots in 2011.
In the years since, the 48-year-old has taken up media work with Swedish TV channel Viaplay.
Life after football has at times proved a struggle for the Dane, who was forced to take nine months off work in 2021 amid a four-year battle with depression and stress.
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But the 48-year-old has revealed he is faring much better now, partly due to a drastic career change.
What is Jesper Gronkjaer up to now?
In a recent interview with Ajax, ahead of their meeting with Chelsea in the Champions League, Gronkjaer opened up on swapping the small screen for the construction industry.
He said: "I feel really good.
“I currently live in Aarhus, live a good life, and am far removed from the football world.
“I wanted to try something else, and now I’m in construction and apartment renovation, something completely new.
"During the last years of my career, I’d thought about it a few times, but I first became a pundit."
Gronkjaer's current career couldn't be further from his days in elite football
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Gronkjaer's current career couldn't be further from his days in elite footballCredit: Getty
Seven of the Dane's 11 goals for Chelsea came in the Premier League
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Seven of the Dane's 11 goals for Chelsea came in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
Gronkjaer added that his new vocation has allowed him to find fulfilment in his personal life that he couldn't as a footballer.
He continued: “I enjoy my free time. Back then, it wasn’t a problem, but now my days aren’t fully planned out. That’s just how it was then, part of the job.
"As a footballer, you’re always in a (very pleasant) bubble. But you’re also quite isolated.
"Now I live more in the background and can do other things — skiing, padel, travelling; all the things I couldn’t do while playing football.”
Chelsea vs Ajax: Gronkjaer's verdict
With two of his former clubs meeting in the Champions League on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge, Gronkjaer shared his thoughts ahead of the clash.
Chelsea go in as favourites, with one win and one defeat from their opening two European fixtures.
Gronkjaer scored 15 goals in 69 games for Ajax between 1998 and 2000
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Gronkjaer scored 15 goals in 69 games for Ajax between 1998 and 2000Credit: Getty
Enzo Maresca's side rebounded from a 3-1 defeat away to Bayern Munich with a 1-0 win over Benfica.
Meanwhile, Ajax sit bottom of the league phase table, having lost both of their games so far.
But current form didn't have much bearing on Gronkjaer's prediction, as he admitted he spends little time watching football after his career change.
When asked about the league phase match, he admitted: “Sorry, but I don’t watch that much football anymore.
"I still follow Ajax, but it’s hard for me to say what will happen on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.
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"I was at that crazy 4–4 in 2019 [in the Champions League group stage], and I really got into the match then. Seeing the iconic Ajax shirt again, I was completely drawn in.
Joao Pedro is shown a red card during Chelsea's game against Benfica
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Joao Pedro was sent off in Chelsea's last Champions League match against BenficaCredit: Getty
"But this Wednesday — no, I can’t say.”