Meet the former German international footballer, who made over 200 appearances in the Bundesliga before making drastic career switch to WWE in INCREDIBLE transformation

A former professional footballer looks unrecognisable following retirementThe individual - who played in the Bundesliga - had a brief stint in the WWE Football is changing... managers can't rely on their reputation. Just look at the Golden Generation - It's All Kicking Off 

A former professional footballer now looks totally unrecognisable after he left the sport to join WWE in a bizarre career switch.

The WWE star, who used to play between the sticks, played over 300 times as a footballer.

Despite announcing his retirement in 2014, the former Germany international returned to football in 2017 for a one-off match with German eighth-division side SSV Dillingen of the Kreisliga Schwaben-Nord.

In a career which saw him represent his national side on six occasions – he is now enjoying retirement life in a rather unusual way.

The 46-year-old is now enjoying his time as a professional wrestler and looks totally unrecognisable!

It was a drastic career change for this former football star who went into WWE

The former German football star looks totally unrecognisable following a bizarre career change

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The footballer in question is none other than former Werder Bremen shot stopper Tim Wiese.

With nearly 300 Bundesliga appearances to his name, Wiese spent well over a decade in Germany’s premier division – playing for the likes of Kaiserlautern, Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim.

Wiese, 46, was even selected for the Germany squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa – but failed to make it into the starting eleven. They would go on to lose to eventual winners Spain in the semi-finals.

After making his international debut in 2008, his last appearance for the side came in a 2-1 defeat to France in an international friendly.

During his professional career, the former keeper won the DFB-Pokal and the DFL-Ligapokal – before eventually retiring in 2014 after revealing that his best years were behind him. It came not long after Hoffenheim agreed with Wiese to terminate his contract.

‘I am not a dreamer but a realist, and I assume that I have my best years behind me and I will no longer play as a professional.’.

The ex-Hoffenheim stopper opted to follow in the footsteps of former Port Vale goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson, who retired from football in 2013 in becoming a wrestler..

‘I got an official request from the WWE,’ he told BILD in 2014.

Tim Wiese – had a spell with the WWE – but was formerly a professional footballer

The 46-year-old made the switch in 2016 – two years after retiring from football

The former Germany international played six time for his country

‘It’s for a commitment from me to become a pro wrestler. I’ll listen to everything on it’s own merits.

‘Why should I say no? Wrestling is very popular especially in the United States. I will discuss the offer in the next few weeks with my agent.

‘I am not scared.’

Wiese’s life as a professional wrestler got off to a winning start after the former international goalkeeper won his first match in the WWE back in 2016.

Wiese, competing alongside partners Cesaro and Sheamus, beat the team of The Shining Stars and Bo Dallas.

He got the pinfall after performing his finishing move, a body splash.

He competed for the first time after a period of training at the WWE performance centre and at a specially designed facility in his homeland.

The 34-year-old’s entry into the scripted world of wrestling came after he appeared at a Frankfurt live event as a special guest timekeeper.

He was then invited to train with the company by WWE icon and executive Vice President of talent, live events and creative Triple H.

Speaking ahead of his debut, WWE icon Triple H said: ‘Tim is tenacious.

‘He continues to be very vocal in his desire to prove that he has what it takes,

‘He has shown tremendous resilience and determination to create an opportunity for himself.

‘This is his break to walk his talk. If all goes well in Florida, he will get his chance in the ring.’

After retiring in 2014, Wiese packed on 40kg (88lb) of muscle ahead of his highly-anticipated debut in WWE.

After retiring in 2014, Wiese packed on 40kg (88lb) of muscle ahead of his debut

Wiese’s life as a professional wrestler got off to a winning start after he won his first match in the WWE back in 2016

During his spell under the WWE banner, many would fail to recognise the former Germany international – who looked much slimmer during his playing days.

Speaking to The Guardian on his unique body transformation, Wiese said: ‘When I stopped playing, at my biggest I weighed 132kg, and I had to have about six to seven thousand calories a day.

‘Every woman enjoys a muscular big type by her side, instead of some weakling. But now I’ve cut that down to about three thousand calories and am down to about 120kg. I want to lose another three or four kilograms so I’m more explosive and more aggressive in the ring, so that I’m unbeatable.’

Unfortunately, it never worked out for him in wrestling. By 2017, Wiese had left the WWE and decided to dust off the cobwebs and make a sensational return to football.

Aged 35, he played for Dillingen in a 2-1 defeat to TSV Haunsheim. Fans were clearly eager to see the former wrestler in action.

Unfortunately, it never worked out for him in wrestling. By 2017, Wiese had left the WWE and decided to make a return to football

The German played for Dillingen in a 2-1 defeat to TSV Haunsheim

The side’s attendance for the match, who averaged 60 fans per game, was just over 2,000. At the time, he was desperate to get back into football, revealing: ‘I wonder why I gave up on all of this.

‘Considering it was my first game I think it went well.

‘Now I think of the future. No longer will I play in the sixth series.

‘I think I’m still good enough for the Bundesliga.’

Wiese never played another game and chose not to make another return to the wrestling ring.