Are there any current footballers who have done martial arts? I can only think of John Fashanu, but that’s going back into ancient history. (Though much was made of Fashanu’s black belt in relation to his toughness and skills as a professional footballer.)
There was a more recent one who retired from football to take up boxing. I think his wife died and he had enough of football and found another in boxing.
Rather than toughness and skills I remember "fash the bash" being considered a dirty so-and-so? Elbows going up for headers and that sort of thing?
Quite a few Thai fighters play football in their spare time. I don't think at pro level but theyre pretty good. Had some fun playing football in the gym with Saenchai & Singdam when I last went to Thailand.