James McClean is a free agent after parting ways with hometown club Derry City on Wednesday, and the former Ireland international and ex-Wrexham captain says his next sporting appearance could come in a boxing ring rather than on a football pitch. The 37-year-old told Reuters he wants to fight British TV personality Joey Essex in a bout for the Misfits promotion.
McClean, who made his name at Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion and won more than 100 caps for Ireland, said boxing has long been part of his daily training routine and that he is keen to test himself properly in the ring. "Boxing's new to me, so of course there's something I want to prove for myself because it's not something that I've excelled at before ... if that is what's next then, obviously, it's exciting," he said.
He acknowledged he does not have time to build a professional boxing career from scratch. "I'm almost 38 soon so for me to start a professional boxing career and go down that route, starting from scratch, it's just not plausible, given my age and having to do that," he said. McClean added that influencer-style boxing lets fighters who are not professionals earn more from a handful of bouts than many career boxers make in their lifetime.
McClean had returned to Derry City in January after leaving Wrexham, and his contract at the Irish club was ended by mutual consent this week. A report from RTE two days earlier said Derry had previously attempted to cancel his contract over concerns about his physical condition, a move McClean had publicly criticised through a PFAI statement.
McClean also reflected on his time at Wrexham, where he featured in the reality series "Welcome to Wrexham" as the club, owned by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, won back-to-back promotions. "If I never kick a ball again, that's where I'll see the ending of my football career. And what a way to go - I'm from Derry but I actually see that club, because of the bond that we had, as kind of my adopted home, it's unbelievable," he said.
"I'm happy now in the last 24 hours because I'm a free man, and for the first time in 20 years, I'm excited about what's next because I can decide what I want to do, and I'm not tied to football or anything else," McClean added.
