Topics: Celtic, SPFL, Real Madrid, Everton, Premier League
Thomas Gravesen's life is certainly different to most ex-footballers, but his former Celtic teammate revealed even before he hung up his boots, the Dane wasn't like everyone he played with.
During his career, Gravesen was arguably best known for making the extremely surprising move from Everton to Real Madrid, after impressing for the Toffees.
Even with his form in the Premier League, few would have imagined him rocking up at the Bernabeu to play for Los Blancos, but they bought him for £2.5 million and he played for 18 months for the them.
His post playing career has caught the attention due to the fact that he's become a high rolling poker player, earning a reported $100 million at the tables.
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The former Real midfielder lived is LA for a number of years, and even counted Nicholas Cage and Andre Agassi as neighbours in his gated community.
Even before he hung up his boots, there were plenty of stories about the tough tackling Dane, including a punch up with Robinho in training.
After leaving the Bernabeu he played for Celtic for a year, during which time he was dating adult film star Kira Eggers and, understandably, his teammates were very interested.
Speaking to Under the Cosh, former Hoops player Paul Caddis was asked about meeting Gravesen's girlfriend, "No, she would stay in Denmark or something, his missus was a porn star wasn’t she?," Caddis said.
"We used to say to him, 'Tommy, you got any pictures of your missus?'
"'Just Google her lad, loads on Google,' Gravesen would reply."
Whilst dating a porn star and playing for Real Madrid sounds like Gravesen was already living the life before he hung up his boots, that's not quite true.
Caddis also explained that the 47-year-old would disappear back to Denmark during breaks from football and wouldn't be living the life of luxury at all.
"He used to go back in pre-season and stay at either his mum’s or his dad’s [house] in an attic probably about the f***ing size of this full table.
"In this little attic, a tiny room for six weeks, just used to sit on his PlayStation.
"He was like number one or number two for Call of Duty at one point.
"Honestly! He was f***ing mental, but what a brilliant guy."
