Not every young talent lives up to expectations. Many players emerge from top-tier academies, make their debuts, but fail to reach the required standard and end up in lower leagues. While some return to the top, others carve out successful careers elsewhere, and clubs like Manchester City take pride in both outcomes. However, few players have taken as unique a path as **Reece Wabara**, who traded football for fashion and built a multimillion-pound empire.
Wabara, now 32, joined City’s academy at 14 and debuted for the first team on the final day of the 2010/11 season. Loan spells at Ipswich, Oldham, Blackpool, and Doncaster followed, with one standout moment being his FA Cup-winning goal for Oldham against Liverpool in 2013 under City legend Paul Dickov. By 2014, Wabara was released and transitioned to stints at Barnsley and Wigan. While navigating League One and the Championship, his off-field pursuits began to take shape.
Reflecting on his football journey during an interview with CEOCAST in December 2022, Wabara admitted:
*”It’s my fault. I was complacent. It was too easy until I turned 18, then everyone caught me up. I didn’t push myself hard enough. I was told I’d play for England, be City’s next right-back. But I wasn’t good enough, and when it got hard, I didn’t rise to the challenge.”*
Wabara’s realization that his footballing future was limited came as he began laying the foundations for his clothing brand, **Manière De Voir**. Encouraged by Gymshark co-founder Lewis Morgan, Wabara channeled his creativity into fashion. Balancing business and football wasn’t easy. At Wigan, where he was named in the team of the year, management hinted his focus on his brand was affecting his football. This was a turning point.
*”I knew then I couldn’t leave my future in someone else’s hands,”* he explained. *”People thought I wasn’t dedicated, but I was just being true to myself. When I started proving myself again, it was too late. Your reputation follows you. In football, once you drop down, it’s incredibly hard to climb back up.”*
After leaving Wigan, Wabara briefly joined Bolton in 2017, helping the team secure promotion. However, by then, Manière De Voir was thriving, and his passion for football had waned.
*”At 25 or 26, I had to choose what was long-term. I could’ve played in the Premier League, but being a Champions League or World Cup winner felt unlikely. Building my business felt like the logical choice,”* he said.
Today, Wabara’s decision seems vindicated. Manière De Voir has become a fashion powerhouse, generating millions annually and earning Wabara a spot on the **Sunday Times Young Rich List**, with an estimated worth of £83 million—outpacing stars like Marcus Rashford and Stormzy. The brand recently opened a flagship store on London’s Oxford Street, cementing its place in the fashion world.
Despite his success, Wabara reflects on lessons from his footballing days. Speaking on the *High Performance Podcast*, he credited his time at City for teaching him the value of consistency:
*”I was surrounded by high performers like Aguero and David Silva. They were consistent, disciplined, and never deviated from their routines. I wish I’d realized the importance of that earlier. But those lessons now fuel my business success.”*
When asked if he’d have reached the top level in football with his current mindset, Wabara didn’t hesitate: *”100 percent, without a shadow of a doubt. But I didn’t, and that’s okay. Without that failure, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”*
Far from dwelling on the past, Wabara sees his journey as just beginning. Reflecting on his spot on the Young Rich List, he remarked:
*”I don’t feel I’ve achieved that much yet. I honestly feel like I’m just getting started.”*
Given his track record, few would doubt him.
Leave a Reply