I could have been a footballer if I hadn’t had to give up: Roger Federer

Roger Federer hadn’t been wooing the tennis masses in Switzerland, the tennis legend could have been lining up for football club Concordia Basel against Manchester United in the Champions League this week.

Federer is the club’s most famous fan and as a youngster was rated good enough to have a chance of a career in the professional game.

According to the Daily Mirror, once tennis took over, football was forced into the background, although Federer’s love of all things Concordia Basel has remained throughout his career.

The 30-year-old now plans to attend the Champions League clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

“I’d like to think I could have been a footballer. I was an attacking midfielder or striker. I was a good leader and I think I could have made a good captain,” Federer said.

“My first heroes were Italian players like Roberto Baggio and Toto Schillaci. After that I used to love watching Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane.”

“Tennis took over really for me when I was 12. My tennis schedules were so busy that I couldn’t combine them with other sports, including football. I’d like to think I could have been a footballer if I hadn’t had to give up,” he added.