FORMER Premier League star Florin Gardos has swapped boots and matches for bricks and mortar by becoming a property developer.
Now he is rolling in it after his new career renovating houses in London and building new homes in Romania.
Southampton paid Steaua Bucharest £6million to sign the Romanian international defender in 2014.
However, the 35-year-old made just 18 appearances during four injury-hit years at St Mary's.
Gardos left the Premier League to go to his homeland to join Universitatea Craiova and then retired in 2022.
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But he used the savings he banked from his time in the beautiful game to start a new career and he has not looked back since.
Gardos told Pro Sport: “I invested in houses in the UK after I got injured for the first time.
“I had money in the bank, but didn't invest it. There was a moment when I asked myself - what if something happened and I couldn't play any more?
“A friend who still lives in England guided me.
“We bought houses on the outskirts of London built in the 1930s and '40s, rebuilt them and rented them out.
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“We bought them with extraordinary interest rates, 1.5 to 2.5 per cent. I had the advantage of my friend, who went out to find the properties.
“He knew the market well, he knew estate agents and he had a renovation company. I learned from him.
“Taking out a loan is not easy. Both you and the seller are required to have a lawyer, and the process of checking the documents takes a month or two.
“The risk of spikes decreases, and it is a good investment.”
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After striking it lucky in our capital, Gardos, who won two Romanian titles with Steaua - now known as FCSB - returned back to his country and enjoyed more success.
He told a podcast: “I set up a company when I returned to Craiova, and my associates advised me to start there.
“We built a block with 20 apartments, and it sold very well.
“We started a second one, and the world is open to us as people saw we do quality things.
“I founded a second company in 2022 by myself.
“I focused on building houses in my hometown Satu Mare.”
