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Where are They Now? A Spotlight on Former Flop Thomas Gravesen

Discussion in 'News' started by TC News, Jul 23, 2019.

Discuss Where are They Now? A Spotlight on Former Flop Thomas Gravesen in the News area at TalkCeltic.net.

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    Where are They Now? A Spotlight on Former Flop Thomas Gravesen

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    Photo by M. Jeremy Goldman, CC BY-NC 2.0
    Gravesen was once a teammate of David Beckham’s at Real Madrid

    Enigmatic Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen arrived at Celtic Park to tremendous fanfare. He’d just had a two-year spell with the Galacticos of Real Madrid, and his move to Celtic was considered something of a coup for the then Celts boss, Gordon Strachan. Nevertheless, for one reason or another, Gravesen simply didn’t work in a Celtic shirt.

    Gravesen signed for what appeared to be a snip at £2 million, agreeing to a £7 million three-year deal with Celtic. He’d signed at a time when qualifying for the Champions League was easy and didn’t require awkward first round trips to Sarajevo. However, the Dane would only end up making 29 competitive appearances in a Hoops shirt, due largely to off-field differences of opinion between him and Coach Strachan. Strachan has always been something of a disciplinarian and would have struggled with Gravesen’s maverick personality. With a nickname of “Mad Dog”, you don’t have to be a genius to work out that Gravesen had plenty of aggression in his game. In fact, some would argue he was better suited to the rough and tumble of playing in the NFL or being an AFL Grand Final winner. Nevertheless, the Dane was still a genius with the ball at his feet rather than his hands.

    Gravesen’s ‘love affair’ with Celtic was cut short

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    Photo by Ken Lane, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
    Gravesen’s one-way ticket to Vegas after finishing with football

    Two years into his three-year deal, Gravesen mutually agreed to terminate his Celtic contract. It would mark the end of his professional footballing career. Few could have predicted where he would end up shortly thereafter, with the Dane eventually packing his bags for a new life in ‘Sin City’—Las Vegas. In recent years, Gravesen has become something of a poker shark on the Vegas Strip, whilst living in one of the most illustrious gated communities outside of Vegas in nearby Summerlin. Here, you don’t tend to get much change from £5 million for properties. Some of Gravesen’s most notorious neighbours in Summerlin include former tennis ace Andre Agassi and Hollywood star Nicolas Cage.

    Of course, you don’t have to be a high roller to enjoy what Vegas has to offer, but it certainly helps if you do have the cash behind you. Gravesen reportedly saw long-term investments mature after his time with Real Madrid, which gave him the capital to hang up his boots after his time at Parkhead at the age of just 33. Today, reports suggest that Gravesen could have a personal fortune worth as much as £100 million. The Dane allegedly plays poker in some of the biggest poker rooms on the Strip. As few people follow soccer in Vegas, Gravesen has managed to ensure very little notoriety at the poker tables, helping him to focus on the game that he’s clearly found a taste for.

    Gravesen moved to Vegas with his long-term partner, Kamila Persse. As a Czech-American, her passport made it easier for her and Gravesen to settle in Nevada. While Gravesen plays at the high-limit poker tables, his wife reportedly works in real estate for an established U.S. organisation. Combine that with driving around the Vegas Strip in a Mercedes SLR McLaren, and it’s safe to say that life is pretty good for Gravesen away from the beautiful game.

    Gravesen: Poker pro-*-TV sitcom actor supreme

    The Dane has even turned his hand to acting. Earlier this year, Gravesen secured a role in a hit Danish sitcom called Sunday. Gravesen bumped into actor Lars Hjortshoj, who alerted him to the possibility of appearing in the show, which become something of an institution back in Denmark. Gravesen was tasked with playing himself in the show, having been asked to coach FC Fredericia to try and stop the team from being relegated from Denmark’s second tier in the storyline.

    Surprisingly, Gravesen earned rave reviews for his performance, and he admitted that it was “a lot of fun and a really nice, relaxing environment” to work in. It wasn’t the first time Gravesen had performed in front of the cameras, either. He was cast to perform a cameo role in the football-themed movie, Goal II.

    There’s no doubt that life is far from boring for Gravesen post-football. For a man who often kept himself to himself in the dressing room and outside of the training ground, Gravesen’s choice to live in the party capital of the world just proves what an enigma he is and always will be to the Celtic faithful.
     
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