Vinnie Jones: From Hollywood Hardman to West End Star?

Vinnie Jones, the former England and Wimbledon footballer, has had an outrageous career change! The former football hardman has now turned his attention to the stage and is preparing to star in a new West End play.

"I know what you're thinking," Jones says with a chuckle. "Vinnie Jones, on stage? What's he going to do, punch the audience?"

Well, no, he's not going to do that. But he is going to be playing a gangster in a new play called The Guvnor, which opens in London's West End in September. It's a far cry from his days as a notorious enforcer on the football pitch.

Jones has always been a bit of a character. He was born in Watford, England, in 1965 and started his football career with Wimbledon FC. He quickly gained a reputation as a hard man, and his aggressive style of play earned him the nickname "Mad Dog." He was also known for his love of getting into fights on and off the pitch.

After retiring from football, Jones found success as an actor. He has appeared in a number of films, including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Snatch (2000), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). He has also had a career as a television presenter.

Now, Jones is taking on a new challenge with his first West End play. He says he's excited about the opportunity to show people a different side to himself.

"I'm not just a hard man," he says. "I'm also an actor. I've been doing this for a while now, and I'm not going to let anyone tell me I can't do it."

Jones is sure to bring his own unique brand of intensity to the stage. He's a natural performer, and he knows how to connect with an audience. The Guvnor is sure to be a hit, and it will be interesting to see what Jones does next.

In the meantime, we can all enjoy this hilarious video of Jones trying to explain the rules of football to a group of Americans.

• Here's a link to the video