Not every football story follows the same path.
Some footballers peak early; some fade gradually.
And some take an entirely different direction.
This is one of those stories.
Ex-Manchester City footballer now earns more than Erling Haaland.
According to SportBible, Wabara has gone on to build a fashion business generating around £35 million a year, transforming what began as a side project into a global brand.
At a time when most players are still chasing their prime years, he stepped away completely.
From academy football, to building a multi-million-pound company.
Wabara’s playing career never fully settled at the top level.
He made just one senior appearance for Manchester City, spending much of his time out on loan before eventually moving permanently into the lower leagues.
After leaving Bolton, he retired from football entirely in 2017, to focus on his brand, Maniere De Voir,which he had originally launched back in 2013 with a relatively small initial investment.
That early vision proved crucial.
Because while football offered uncertainty, fashion offered control.
The brand grew steadily at first, then rapidly.
Revenues climbed from early six figures into the millions, eventually reaching tens of millions annually as the business expanded globally and diversified its range.
Wabara himself recognised early on that his chances of reaching the very top in football were limited, and instead focused on building something sustainable beyond the game.
That awareness made the difference.
Because while many players prepare for life after football later, he did it during his career.
And now, the results are clear.
A business generating around £35 million per year, Wabara now has a personal net worth that rivals most professional footballers.
It reaffirms the narrative; success does not always come from staying in the game.
Sometimes, it comes from knowing when to leave it.
For Wabara, that moment came early.
And looking at where he is now, it’s difficult to argue with the outcome.
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