Former West Ham striker Iain Dowie enjoyed a successful career both on the field and off it, but his life has taken a surprising turn in recent years. The ex-Northern Ireland international, who also played for Southampton, Crystal Palace and QPR, has swapped football for finance and become a mortgage advisor.
A prolific striker in his playing days
Dowie started his professional career at Luton Town in 1988, after graduating from the University of Hertfordshire with a degree in mechanical engineering. He scored 30 goals in 92 appearances for the Hatters, before moving to West Ham in 1991. He helped the Hammers win promotion to the Premier League in 1993, scoring 12 goals in 32 games.
He then joined Southampton in 1995, where he formed a formidable partnership with Matt Le Tissier. He scored 30 goals in 76 games for the Saints, including a hat-trick against Liverpool at Anfield. He also earned 59 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring 12 goals.
He later played for Crystal Palace, where he was part of the team that reached the FA Cup final in 1990, and QPR, where he finished his playing career in 2001.
A successful manager and pundit after retirement
Dowie did not waste any time after hanging up his boots, as he became the manager of Oldham Athletic in 2002. He guided the Latics to the play-offs in his first season, before joining Crystal Palace in 2003. He led the Eagles to promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in his first season, beating his former club West Ham in the final.
He left Palace in 2006, after a controversial move to Charlton Athletic. He was sacked by the Addicks after just 15 games, as they were relegated from the Premier League. He then had brief spells at Coventry City, QPR and Hull City, before becoming the assistant manager of Bolton Wanderers in 2012.
He also worked as a pundit for Sky Sports, BBC and BT Sport, offering his insights and analysis on various football matches. He was known for his honest and outspoken opinions, as well as his distinctive accent and vocabulary.
A surprising career change to mortgage advisor
In 2017, Dowie decided to make a drastic career change and become a mortgage advisor. He joined Key Partnerships, a specialist equity release referral service that works with financial advisers. He said he was inspired by his son Oliver, who is also a mortgage advisor.
Dowie said he wanted to use his skills and experience to help people achieve their financial goals and dreams. He said he enjoyed working with people and finding solutions for their needs. He also said he was still passionate about football and followed it closely.
He said he was happy with his new career path and had no regrets about leaving football behind. He said he was proud of what he had achieved as a player and a manager, but felt it was time for a new challenge.
