Former Arsenal winger Glenn Helder, known for his humour in the Highbury dressing room, transitioned to comedy after his football career concluded.
As George Graham's last signing for Arsenal, Helder became a beloved figure during his two-year stint from 1995 to 1997, making 49 appearances and scoring once.
Retiring at 41 in 2010, the 55-year-old embraced a career in music and later ventured into guest speaking and comedy. Helder's penchant for making people laugh was a passion alongside his love for football.
Reflecting on the funniest teammate in the dressing room in 2016, he candidly revealed his thoughts to Dutch outlet Metro Nieuws: “Let me put it this way, I certainly wasn't the quietest!
"I have always played with nice guys at all clubs, up to the Dutch national team. Some people need half an hour of silence before the match, but I didn't need that. I knew what I could do and showed it on the field. But I laughed a lot in the dressing room.
"When I came to Sparta as a rookie, I certainly had respect for the elders, but I was the one who turned the lights on and off. To put it mildly, I was more likely to be at the front than the back when it came to joking. During my time at Arsenal, they took terrible revenge on me, you know."
A career in stand-up comedy ensued after his days as a footballer, as opposed to pursuing coaching or punditry roles. Helder never glanced back.
He said: “I was asked to be on Comedy Central's Celebrity Stand-Up program and that was actually the first time I did that. I'm already on a tour with FC De Rebellin, visiting almost all the theatres. That's a lot of fun to do. Of course, you also talk about the stupid things you've done in life and those are actually laughable enough.
"The difference with stand-up is that you have to tell it in a way that makes people laugh. It needs to be a little tighter, but according to others, I have a talent for it. And I think it is an honour to be on stage with Roué Verveer.
"I like humour, but I didn't go looking for it or anything. I was asked to do it and it's just fun to do. I notice that it doesn't bother me.
"Look, if you ask me about the construction of a NASA rocket, I will decline, but I can do this. I know what I can do, but I also know very well what I cannot do."
