Fabian Schar isn’t your average footballer – and he almost had a very different career.

Schar started working in banking as a teenager, and combined this job with football. After five years doing both, he turned professional with FC Basel.

The Newcastle United defender, signed from Deportivo La Coruna for £3million in 2018, spoke about his early years after picking up the North East Football Writers’ Association’s player of the year award on Sunday.

“I think my career’s a little different, because I worked five years in a bank five days every week, so I know the other side,” said the 28-year-old. “It’s a nice experience that I have with this job in my pocket as well, so I’m really happy that I have done it in my young years.”

Asked if he would one day return to banking, he said: “Hopefully, I still have many years in football first, then we’ll see.”