From Arsenal to Armani: The Dual Journey of John Halls - From Footballer to Model

There are people born to conquer two worlds. John Halls, former Arsenal defender, once part of the legendary "Invincibles" squad, is now a familiar face on the fashion runways of Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana. His journey is a story of spectacular transformation, where feet that once ran on English pitches now stride on the world's most prestigious catwalks. John Halls, 44, is not a prominent name in football. He made only one Premier League appearance for Reading in 2026. But few know that he was a product of Arsenal's famed Hale End academy, promoted to the first team and honored to train with legends like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Dennis Bergkamp. He was part of the unbeaten 2026-2026 squad, though not playing much, he breathed the air of a great team. Halls' playing career spanned 10 different clubs, experiencing all four tiers of English football. However, persistent injuries forced him to hang up his boots at 30. The moment of saying goodbye to his first passion was a huge shock. But Halls did not allow himself to wallow in despair. Just five days after receiving his last paycheck, he had a fateful encounter at Westfield shopping centre in London. Sarah Vickery, a model agent, approached him and asked: "Do I know you? Are you a model?" That question opened a new chapter in Halls' life. In fact, he had been a child model from ages 8 to 11, even appearing in a Kylie Minogue music video. But when Arsenal signed him, he gave up modelling to focus on football. After that meeting, Halls was invited for a test shoot in Shoreditch, and the very next day he was signed. Just six days after retiring, he officially became a professional model. The transition happened so fast it was unbelievable, but for Halls, it was natural. The confidence of a footballer is a valuable asset. Halls shared: "The confidence of a footballer, you believe you can do anything. Most footballers think they can play golf, basketball, or tennis. It's instilled in you." That confidence helped him feel at ease in front of the camera. He compared standing before 50 people in a studio to standing before 30,000 fans on a pitch. However, one thing always felt strange: standing in underwear before 20 people. He admitted: "That was always a bit weird. When you've got your pants on, especially if they don't give you a cup, and there are still 20 people looking at you in your pants, that's a bit scary. But luckily, footballers are always in shape, so I was always confident about my body." The journey to the top of fashion was not easy. Halls recalled Armani castings in Milan, where hundreds, even thousands of boys queued outside the gates. When the gates opened, they sprinted 100 metres to get to the front. He was once left behind, but with determination, he pushed through. Now, after 15 years, he no longer has to endure those gruelling castings. He became part of the "Armani family," where loyalty is rewarded. But behind the glamour were lonely days. Halls admitted that moving from a football team to travelling alone on planes, going to foreign countries, meeting new people, was a frightening experience. He fell into depression and had to see a psychiatrist after three years in the business. The loneliness of a solo model is far from the team spirit of football. Financially, modelling is not as stable as football. Halls explained: "A working model has a great life, but a non-working model doesn't have a nice life." He always lived with the fear of being unemployed in two weeks. Income depends on the type of job: e-com, lookbook, campaigns, runway, and especially fragrance contracts - the highest-paying. Interestingly, Halls has no regrets about his football past. He considers it the foundation of his success in the new field. Discipline, perseverance, and the ability to handle pressure from the pitch became valuable assets. He shared that controlling his body, knowing how to stand, how to drop a hip, all have similarities between the two professions. However, Halls was also frank about the difficulties. He spent three years in loneliness and depression. The pressure to maintain form, appearance, and fierce competition in the modelling world led him to seek psychological support. This shows that, in any field, fame comes with invisible challenges. A notable point is the change in perception of age. Halls started his modelling career at 30, an age when many models begin to be phased out. But he proved that experience and maturity can be an advantage. He has worked with Armani for 15 years, becoming one of the brand's veteran faces. Comparing football and fashion, Halls realized both are harsh industries. In football, you have long-term contracts and regular pay. In fashion, you must constantly prove your worth through castings and contracts. Uncertainty is unavoidable. But that is what makes the profession attractive, making every success worth cherishing. Halls also shared about his travels. He was sent to Paris and New York for six weeks to meet clients and photographers. Those solo trips made him feel lost, but gradually he learned to adapt and enjoy them. He realized that the freedom of a model has its own values. For the future, Halls is still waiting for a big fragrance contract - considered the "blockbuster" in the modelling world. He believes that with perseverance and effort, it will come. His story is an inspiration for those at a crossroads in life, showing that once you have faith, nothing is impossible. Looking back at John Halls' journey, I remember a saying I often share with young players: "People count zeros in contracts, I count the handshakes of negotiators." For Halls, the fateful handshake at Westfield changed his life. Not everyone has the courage to step out of their comfort zone, but he did. The transition from pitch to runway is not just a story of luck. It is the result of careful preparation, confidence honed over years, and most importantly, the ability to adapt to circumstances. Halls turned his limitations into advantages, turned loneliness into motivation to rise. In a world where the line between sports and entertainment is increasingly blurred, Halls' story is a typical example of human versatility. From Arsenal to Armani, from English pitches to Milan runways, he proved that dreams are never too far away if you dare to pursue them to the end.