Former Tottenham ace retires to turn into a director and photographer as he reveals pursuit of happiness away from soccer

Whiteman’s journey from soccer to movie wasn’t sudden — it was years within the making. Even as an adolescent, he sought out experiences past soccer’s slender focus, helping administrators and photographers on set throughout his days off. “Football is a short career regardless,” he defined. “I knew I didn’t want to stay in it forever. It was about trying to gain experience and be proactive in learning about things I was passionate about — and mainly because I was enjoying it.”

After leaving Spurs, Whiteman trialled with two English golf equipment, together with one within the Championship that supplied him a short-term deal. However, he declined the contract, admitting, “I saw happiness in these other avenues. It got to the point where I’d rather end this on my terms than go to a club that I didn’t want to go to.” Instead, he threw himself totally into his new profession — and inside days was helping Harley Weir and rapper Central Cee on a Nike shoot, earlier than becoming a member of Shahrokhshahi to movie a documentary throughout Norway and Ukraine.

His first private challenge, a brief movie concerning the World Toe Wrestling Championships, grew to become a turning level. “There was no budget or brief, nothing,” Whiteman mentioned. “I turned up with my camera and ran around shooting it, then sat with an editor to finish it — and it got posted.” The quick obtained glowing evaluations from David Reviews, incomes him a contract with Somesuch. “Somesuch have their film and commercials departments, and I do photography,” he added. “I’ve got project ideas for short films, and hopefully one day, a feature-length.”