Adebayo Akinfenwa is in the process of launching his academy as he looks to life after football.
The Beast has become a cult hero in football circles after being dubbed the world's strongest player by the popular FIFA games.
The 34-year-old is looking to partner with a football club, and AFC Wimbledon are in talks with the striker about it, with the first one to launch in Catford before rolling them out across London.
He said: “I'll open the first one in the Catford area and we're talking to academies in Holland to open one as well.
“There'll be various ones around London. I want to be able to get all the kids so they don't have to travel.
“Hopefully we'll have one south, east, west and north. We're at the start in the Catford one. I've got a lot of irons in the fire and the future looks bright.”
Akinfenwa credits football for keeping his life on track and he wants to give that same opportunity he had to the youth of today.
He added: “The kids are the future. I could easily have gone left when football helped me turn right. I want to be able to give something back.
“People want to put you in boxes but I want to talk about what people can do. You decide where you go in life. That's what I want to give back with the future generation.”
