Ex-Man United player became a PRIEST after growing 'bored of money and models'

Former Northern Ireland midfielder Philip Mulryne was once on Manchester United's books - but he is now a priest after quitting the sport.

The Northern Irishman, who earned 27 caps for his country in a career that included spells with Norwich and Cardiff City, was ordained as a deacon in the Catholic Church back in 2017.

Mulryne, who began his career at Old Trafford after progressing through the club's academy, made just one Premier League appearance for the club before moving to Norwich in 1999 for £500,000.

After becoming a fan favourite at Carrow Road, the Northern Irishman made over 150 league appearances for the Norfolk outfit before leaving for Cardiff City in 2005.

His career would then start to go downhill, barely featuring for the Welsh side before spells at Leyton Orient and King's Lynn Town - retiring in 2008.

While many ex-players go into coaching or television punditry, Mulryne opted to ditch his life of glamour for something of a more spiritual existence.

At 31, he began formation for the Catholic priesthood after he started to fall out of love with football. Mulryne, who earned over £500,000-a season in his best years, didn't enjoy where his career was going - and thus, he made a significant change.

Speaking on his transition into priesthood, Mulryne previously told Norwich's official website: 'It's hard to pin down a particular moment. I would say it started in my last year at Norwich, not explicitly and I wasn't thinking about it at that time but I started to get dissatisfied with the whole lifestyle.

'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. I was quite shocked - why am I not happy when