I’m a former Premier League star who won a trophy at Arsenal but I retired to become a model and snogged Louise Redknapp

AS second career acts go, John Halls hasn’t had a bad one.

The Islington-born former midfielder, 41, came through the youth ranks at Arsenal, and trained with a squad that included the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira.

John Halls came through the academy system at ArsenalRex Features

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He made three first team appearances for The Gunners[/caption]

Halls is now a catwalk modelRex

He would go on to make three appearances for The Gunners, all of them coming in the League Cup before persistent injuries and a lack of a first team pathways saw him leave the club.

He was snapped up by legendary Stoke manager Tony Pulis in 2003 and would go on to play for the likes of Sheffield United, Brentford and Crystal Palace before hanging up his boots in 2012.

After calling time on his career while playing for Wycombe Wanderers, Halls gave modelling a shot after being encouraged to do so by his sister.

He told Planet Football: “I was really lucky, I retired with Wycombe and about five or six days later I was in a shopping centre when my now agents approached me and asked if I wanted to start modelling, so I gave it a go.

“Before that, my sister made me go to a few agencies while I was still playing and she put it in my mind that it was something I could do.

“I did a test shoot for my agents and they signed me.”

Despite the frustrations of never quite fulfilling his potential as a footballer, there’s no doubt that he has gone from strength to strength as a model.

Halls has modelled for high-end brands such as Giorgio Armani and Dolce and Gabana as well as doing shoots for the likes of Next and H&M.

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The modelling life has opened a number of doors for the former player, and he says he has always embraced the party lifestyle.

He was spotted kissing Louise Redknapp on a night out at Soho House in 2019.

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Halls has modelled for a number of high-end fashion brands[/caption]

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Including the likes of Giorgio Armani[/caption]

He said that while he does enjoy the catwalk life, he does look back on his career with some regret, believing he was impatient while at Arsenal.

He said: “I was very lucky and privileged to come through at a team like Arsenal.

“It wasn’t until I left the Arsenal I thought, ‘Oh my God, I was training every day with Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

“At the time I was as a cocky young lad, thinking I was better than everyone, thinking, ‘I should be playing in front of him and him’

After a successful loan spell at Stoke, Halls joined the side permanently as he was desperate to play regular football.

“I didn’t want to sit on the bench or play reserve team football so I spoke to the boss. I had a year left on my contract, but I wanted to play, I was young and enthusiastic. I made my mind up and went to Stoke City.

“In hindsight, I think maybe I should have stayed at the Arsenal, as who knows what would have happened, but at the time I wanted to play.”

He most recently walked the catwalk for Milan Fashion Week in June.

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