Chelsea Cult Hero Jesper Gronkjaer Trades Punditry for Construction After Health Struggles
Jesper Gronkjaer, the former Chelsea winger and Denmark international, has surprised fans by leaving punditry behind to pursue a career in construction.
The 48-year-old, who joined the Blues from Ajax in 2000 for £7.8million, spent four memorable years at Stamford Bridge. During his time at Chelsea, Gronkjaer made 119 appearances and scored 11 goals.
His football journey also took him to Birmingham City, Atletico Madrid, Stuttgart, and ultimately back to Denmark with Copenhagen, where he retired in 2011.
Post-retirement, Gronkjaer carved out a niche as a football analyst with Swedish broadcaster Viaplay.
However, life after football was not without challenges. In 2021, he was forced to take nine months off work amid a four-year struggle with depression and stress.
Now, the former winger has found a new lease of life away from the limelight.
In a recent interview with Ajax, ahead of their Champions League fixture against Chelsea, Gronkjaer opened up about his unexpected career pivot.
He said, “I feel really good. I currently live in Aarhus, live a good life, and am far removed from the football world.
I wanted to try something else, and now I’m in construction and apartment renovation, something completely new. During the last years of my career, I’d thought about it a few times, but I first became a pundit.”
The Dane explained that his work in construction has brought a sense of personal fulfillment he hadn’t experienced as a footballer.
“I enjoy my free time. Back then, it wasn’t a problem, but now my days aren’t fully planned out. That’s just how it was then, part of the job. As a footballer, you’re always in a (very pleasant) bubble. But you’re also quite isolated.
Now I live more in the background and can do other things, skiing, padel, traveling; all the things I couldn’t do while playing football.”
With Chelsea and Ajax set to clash in the Champions League on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge, Gronkjaer was asked for his thoughts ahead of the encounter.
Chelsea enter the match with one win and one defeat from their opening two European fixtures, while Ajax have lost both of their group games. Despite this, Gronkjaer admitted that football is no longer central to his day-to-day life.
“Sorry, but I don’t watch that much football anymore. I still follow Ajax, but it’s hard for me to say what will happen on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.
I was at that crazy 4–4 in 2019 [in the Champions League group stage], and I really got into the match then. Seeing the iconic Ajax shirt again, I was completely drawn in. But this Wednesday, no, I can’t say.”
For Chelsea supporters, seeing a former cult hero like Jesper Gronkjaer thriving in a completely different career is both inspiring and a reminder of the challenges players face after leaving the game.
His journey from Stamford Bridge star to builder in Aarhus is proof that reinvention is possible at any stage.
