MusicRadar

Glenn and Chris show the camera some love.

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An outrageously gifted footballer he may be, but Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has discovered that playing the guitar isn’t as easy as running rings around Premiership defences. In fact, we heard this week that he’s decided to give up on learning the instrument and start playing the drums instead.

The Sun – which has mocked-up a truly magnificent image to accompany the story – reports that Rooney has been struggling to “get his fingers right for the chords” and is finding it difficult to read music.

Of course, Rooney isn’t the first sports start to work on a musical side project. Here, MusicRadar charts the chequered history of athletes who’ve tried to rock…

1. Glenn and Chris
We’ve ignored the countless cup final football songs – which means there’s no place for the horrific Anfield Rap – on the basis that they were made for a bit of a laugh. When, in 1987, Tottenham Hotspur stars Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle got together to produce Diamond Lights, though, they looked deadly serious.

A mid-tempo ballad of almost unbelievable banality, this single says more about the 80s than time-hopping TV drama Ashes To Ashes ever could. Shamefully, it was only when both Hoddle and Waddle moved to France (to Monaco and Olympique de Marseille respectively) that their considerable footballing gifts were fully appreciated, but the British public chose to endorse their musical talents by sending Diamond Lights to number 12 in the charts. Go figure.

2. John Daly
We’d never actually heard that the US PGA golf tour’s maverick-in-residence had embarked on a recording career, but it sounded like his sort of thing, so we Googled it.

Sure enough, Daly (and friends) produced My Life -  a country album - in 2007. Featuring contributions from the likes of Hootie & The Blowfish and – impressive, this – Willie Nelson, songs include the charm-free All My Ex’s Wear Rolexes and I’m Drunk, Damn Bloke.

You can listen to all of the tracks here. Be warned, though – the urge to bludgeon yourself to death with a sand wedge may prove to be overwhelming.

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