A brutal knife attack five years ago transformed Andre Wisdom's trajectory from Premier League footballer to property entrepreneur.
The former Liverpool defender, who featured 22 times for the Reds alongside Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez, has carved out a new existence in real estate while battling persistent physical pain from the 2020 assault.
At 32, Wisdom has established himself as a landlord in the Liverpool area, with his properties housing the club's emerging talents.
He revealed he had to make the switch as: "My body just wasn't the same. It was frustrating. I wasn't getting the same output in power and speed."
Andre Wisdom was playing for Derby at the time of the attack
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His football journey continues at seventh-tier FC United of Manchester, though the semi-professional level represents a stark contrast to his earlier promise as an England Under-21 captain who scored on his Liverpool debut aged 19.
The assault occurred in the early hours of June 28, 2020, when Wisdom broke lockdown rules to attend a house party in Liverpool. He had played alongside Wayne Rooney in Derby's 2-1 victory over Reading just hours earlier.
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"I shouldn't have been there. I should have been at home recovering after the game, but it was lockdown and I was eager to be outside," he confirmed.
Five masked attackers confronted him as he walked to his vehicle, demanding his designer watch. When he refused, a violent struggle ensued. The assailants stabbed him in the head, chest, buttocks and left thigh before fleeing when partygoers emerged.
Despite severe wounds, including a thigh injury where muscle tissue was exposed, Wisdom drove himself home before calling an ambulance.
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Andre Wisdom played alongside Steven Gerrard at Liverpool
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The attackers were never apprehended. Wisdom underwent surgery and returned to Derby's squad, but his body never fully recovered. Released by the Championship club in 2021, he pursued opportunities at Portsmouth, Sheffield United and Birmingham without securing a permanent contract.
He continued: "I came back too soon. I was too eager, I wanted to be back in a football environment. I think that was me dealing with the emotion. I didn't want to sit at home and replay all the things that happened."
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After two years away from football, Wisdom joined non-league Warrington Town in 2023, followed by a brief spell at Derry City in Northern Ireland.
His property ventures have provided financial stability and a connection to his former club. Multiple houses near Liverpool now serve as accommodation for the club's young players, with Trent Alexander-Arnold among the notable former tenants before his recent move to Real Madrid.
Andre Wisdom has now turned his sights to property work
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"Who knows where I'd be playing today had I not been stabbed," Wisdom told BBC Sport. "I wouldn't say that night ruined my career, but it definitely changed it. To this day I still have pain in my body from being stabbed."
Despite the enduring physical challenges, Wisdom maintains an optimistic outlook, channelling his energy into both his property portfolio and his continued involvement in football at FC United of Manchester.