He was signed by Championship club last season, now he’s playing in Baller League under Luis Figo

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Football careers are notoriously short, all things considered, so it’s not surprising that many former professionals try to stay in the game as long as possible.

The best players get maybe 15 years on the pitch, give or take. Of course, there’s always the option to step back and drop down the leagues to extend your career, and many do take that route through the Championship, League One, and beyond.

Sadly, that doesn’t always work out. You have to find a club to sign you, for a start, and then there’s the small matter of staying fit and impressing enough to lock down a place in the team.

Thankfully, a bunch of former players and free agents have been given a lifeline by the new, influencer-led, Baller League, and we’ve been particularly intrigued by the story of one former Stoke City and Sheffield United man who’s taken up that offer.

• READ MORE: Championship players are ‘on the radar’ for Thomas Tuchel, and these five can make the step up with England immediately

Ciaran Clark steps away from EFL to join Baller League

Ciaran Clark is one of a number of ex-EFL players who has joined the Baller League recently, having signed for Trebol FC, a team managed by Real Madrid and Portugal legend, Luis Figo.

It’s an odd change of scenery for the former Republic of Ireland international, who joined Stoke in the summer of 2023. Despite being described as a “valuable addition” to the Potters’ squad at the time, Clark only managed three appearances in the second tier last season.

He was released last summer and, after failing to land a new club, he enlisted in the Baller League draft and was picked up by Figo’s team for the new initiative.

Clark made over 200 Premier League appearances during his professional career, including 159 games for Aston Villa and 129 for Newcastle United.

At 35-years-old, it’s not necessarily surprising that Clark was unable to pick up a new club last summer, especially given how little impact he made last season at Stoke.

But, regardless, it’s an exciting new step for Clark, and he’s not the only one following that path now.

• READ MORE: Blackburn Rovers legend admits joke he made to friends when he first joined club after bad first impression

What exactly is Baller League and who’s involved?

The Baller League contains 12 teams, each with 12 players, for a six-a-side format with a bit of a twist. Essentially, the final three minutes of each half are chaos, with teams losing three players, goalkeepers denied the chance to use their hands, and long-range goals counting for double.

The indoor football competition features former players, futsal players, and celebrities. Premier League icons like John Terry, Alan Shearer, Robert Pires, and Ian Wright are all managers in the league, alongside the likes of Figo, Alisha Lehmann, Chloe Kelly, and acclaimed rapper, Dave.

There’s a great amount of EFL heritage involved in the new game, too. Former West Brom man Bakary Sako, Watford trio Adrian Mariappa, Marvin Sordell, and Henri Lansbury, and ex-Bournemouth star Jordon Ibe are all signed up, among others.

Fans will also get to see the likes of Michael Hector, Bruno Andrade, Jerome Sinclair, and Josh Harrop strutting their stuff at the Copper Box Arena in London from March 24 onwards.

You’ll be able to watch Baller League games on Sky Sports on Monday nights.