Whilst some footballers may be known for their acting on the pitch after flopping to the floor, there are a few who have tried their hand at the real thing. David Beckham appeared as himself in the cult football trilogy ‘Goal!’ before going on to have minor roles in other projects. Through his friendship with legendary British director Guy Ritchie, he has made two cameo appearances in his films: as a projectionist in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and as Trigger in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Beckham’s acting skills are not quite as solid as his ability on the pitch, with Golden Balls admitting that he is ‘too stiff’ to become a full-time actor. The former England captain was with Manchester United at their peak, and the Red Devils could probably use more like him right now. Their fall from grace has been well documented, with sports betting odds showing them to be rank outsiders to win any silverware this year.

Beckham is not alone in his Hollywood ventures, and plenty of other footballers have made the leap to the silver screen and TV with varied success. Let’s take a look at some other players, past and present, who swapped the subs bench for the make-up chair and the success they had in doing so.

Vinnie Jones

Former ‘Crazy Gang’ hardman Vinnie Jones is probably the biggest success story of players who turned to acting. After finishing his footballing career with over 400 apps for clubs such as Chelsea, Leeds, and Wimbledon, Jones made his acting debut in Guy Ritchie’s ‘Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.’ The film became a cult classic, with Jones’ performance praised by critics.

He maintained his friendship with Ritchie and was cast in ‘Snatch’ as Bullet Tooth Tony, which also went on to become a classic. The former Wales international usually plays hardman roles, matching his reputation on the pitch. He has gone on to appear in over 100 movies and TV Shows, including roles in blockbusters like X-Men: The Last Stand and television royalty Law & Order and NCIS.

Eric Cantona

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona first showed a penchant for acting during his career when he made his first appearance in a television film whilst still under contract with the Red Devils. This has developed into a relatively successful career on screen, and the Frenchman has had major roles in both French and English language films. He played French Diplomat Paul De Foix in Shekhar Dapur’s Oscar-nominated period drama ‘Elizabeth’ which was widely praised by critics.

He went on to play himself in Ken Loach’s 2009 film ‘Looking for Eric’, which debuted at the famed Cannes Film Festival. The film was a critical success, with Cantona drawing the plaudits for this performance. His career on screen has matched his on the field, and Cantona still appears in projects today.

Pele

One of the most recognizable faces in the world of sport, it is no surprise that Pele has been required on camera. As a player, the Brazilian maestro is widely regarded as one of the greatest who ever lived. He notched up over 600 goals for boyhood club Santos and led Brazil to three World Cups. His most famous appearance on screen is probably his role in ‘Escape to Victory,’ which follows Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during the Second World War and play an exhibition match of football against a German team.

He featured alongside megastars Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine as well as fellow superstars on the pitch such as Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles, and Paul Van Himst. He has gone on to make appearances in several films since, including a cameo role in his biopic ‘Pele: Birth of A Legend.’

Ally McCoist

Perhaps a surprising appearance on this list, Ranger’s legend Ally McCoist actually appeared alongside megastars Robert Duvall and Michael Keaton in his on-screen debut. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Scottish footballers to ever play the game, McCoist turned to acting after winding down his career in the late 90s/early 2000s.

He played Jackie McQuillan, a fictional legendary ex-Celtic player in ‘A Shot at Glory.’ Duvall plays the manager of the fictional Kilnockie FC, and he and McCoist clash over how the club should be run. McCoist’s character is eventually won over by the affable small town the club hails from and leads them to glory. The film was perhaps unsurprisingly a critical and commercial flop, with McCoist’s acting skills limited, to say the least, and Duvall’s horrible Scottish accent was not making things any better. An amusing tidbit from this production, however, is that McCoist wore a Rangers jersey under his Celtic one to keep the material off his skin.