Heurelho Gomes is thankful that he can combine his religious efforts with life in football after retiring.
The Brazilian goalkeeper enjoyed the sort of career that many can only dream of after playing for PSV Eindhoven, Tottenham Hotspur and Watford during his days as a goalkeeper.
Those experiences saw Gomes rubbing shoulders with stars such as Mark van Bommel and Patrick Kluivert at PSV, before playing alongside Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart at Tottenham.
However his time in north London ended after a regrettable fallout with Harry Redknapp that brought an end to his Spurs career.
Despite his elite-level club displays, Gomes also got to play alongside Robinho, Kaka and his personal favourite, Ronaldinho during an eight-year career with Brazil.
Having started his career with Cruzeiro the journey from South America to Europe was one that the 42-year-old looks back on fondly.
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It’s exactly that which motivated Gomes to turn down the offer of coaching with Watford in order to become a football agent who helps Brazil’s most talented young players.
But not only that, Gomes has the freedom to practice the other love in his life – his faith.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Gomes said: “I needed to do something in football after retiring.
“It’s difficult to stay there but I made so many connections during 20 years as a professional footballer so to become an agent I see myself helping young players get to where I had the opportunity to go in England and Europe.
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“There are so many Brazilians, young players who dream of coming over here, but to come here isn’t like magic, you need to work at that and work at their mentality as well. They need to be prepared to come over.
“I couldn’t see myself inside of the pitch or in management or something like that.
“Watford did invite me to stay there after I retired but I said ‘no, let me try what is in my heart at the moment’ and what is in my heart is to become an agent and help the young players as much as I can.
Discussing his joint-career as a pastor, Gomes said: “I’m still doing this as well. I’m still preaching the gospel and this is something that gives me the freedom to be an agent.
“I can be anywhere. I can be anywhere preaching the gospel.”
Asked if he’s had any footballers coming to his sessions, Gomes said: “Of course, loads of them! Players that I’ve prayed for and player that I’m still praying for so it’s something that I can combine as well.
“If I become a coach or a director or something like that, I couldn’t do the things that I do today. I can go anywhere and go there to work as an agent and also to preach the gospel.”
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Gomes is now looking to combine his football and religious experience to guide the next generation of Brazilian stars.
If they can experience even a fraction of his career success, they’ll be very lucky indeed.