I left Chelsea in 2003 to become a pancake chef after 198 Premier League appearances

A number of professional footballers have dived into unusual careers after hanging up their boots.

There was Philippe Albert – who became a greengrocer after embarrassing Manchester United back in 1996 – going against the typical career path of footballers who tend to move into coaching or punditry.

Kieran Gibbs has also made a living through Bitcoin after retiring from football – preferring to delve into cryptocurrency to maximise his earnings from his playing days.

However, there was a man who did something truly unique in Ken Monkou – who decided to move into the pancake industry after leaving Chelsea in 2003.

How Ken Monkou got involved in the Old Town Pancake House after Chelsea exit

The Dutchman began his association with Chelsea back in 1989 after arriving in a £100,000 move from Feyenoord, even winning the club’s Player of the Season award in his debut campaign – the first black player to do so for the Blues.

Monkou then joined Southampton in 1992 just as the First Division was reformed into the Premier League – going on to amass 198 Premier League appearances for the Saints.

The man born in Nickerie – however – clearly grew to love Chelsea during his time in west London, as he opted to return to Stamford Bridge in 2002 to play for the reserve side as his career drew to a close, and very nearly made a Premier League appearance for the Blues to go with his First Division outings.

Monkou told FourFourTwo in 2008: “I don’t think many people realise that I finished my career at Chelsea. I went back as a reserve under Claudio Ranieri in 2003. I was going to make my second debut at the age of 38 against Aston Villa, but I pulled my calf on the Friday and young Robert Huth made his debut instead. That would have been my last game.”

So, how did he get involved making pancakes?

Monkou added: “Back in Holland my parents ran a bar-bistro and I always wanted to start something like that when I retired, a coffee house or a tearoom. So, I went to the owner of the old pancake house I used to go to as a 16-year-old and asked if I could run around in the restaurant and get some experience. He said, anytime, Ken, but you know this place is up for sale?’ Eight months later I was the owner.

How Ken Monkou feels about swapping football for pancakes

It is not a standard career path by any means, but the main thing is that the 60-year-old enjoys himself doing it.

Monkou also told FourFourTwo: “It’s quite a difference, from playing to standing behind the stove flipping the pancakes. It’s good, though, and for me it’s sport. Once you’re busy it gets you going, as there’s only two of you in the kitchen and you’re trying to make 150 pancakes a day. I don’t reckon any of the present players would do it!

18: Ken Monkou (pancake house owner)
Dutch centre-back Ken Monkou spent the majority of his playing career in England. After hanging up his boots in 2003, Monkou ran a pancake house back in the Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/8JGVUE6VBD— Football Hub (@FootbalIhub) November 26, 2024

“We’ve had a couple of Chelsea fans over because someone took a picture of me there and they got hold of it, so I’m sure my old teammates will start coming over to get free pancakes too. It’s all good fun and I love working here because I’m a real people person.”

Almost 200 Premier League appearances before running a pancake house? There are certainly worse ways to live after retiring from football – to say the very least.