Former international striker who SPAT at Steven Gerrard in England clash now a cheese-maker in shock career change

SWITZERLAND's grounds scorer Alex Frei plans to swap goals for Gruyere - by going into the CHEESE BUSINESS.

The erstwhile Borussia Dortmund, Rennes and Basel ace struck 42 times successful 84 Swiss appearances.

Frei won 4 Super League titles with hometown nine Basel.  He has since managed 4 antithetic sides.

But the 45-year-old has present completed a four-month people tally by the Switzerland Cheese Marketing organisation.

He has gained a diploma arsenic a "cheese sommelier" - which entitles him to enactment successful 1 of his homeland's astir celebrated industries.

Frei was invited connected the people aft revealing his involvement extracurricular football was to unfastened a food shop.

He said: "The people was precise interesting, and thing wholly caller for me.

"I learned everything astir beverage consistency, cheesemaking and consumption.  I person ever been a large food fan.

"It was precise awesome to spot everything that goes into it.  The people took 4 months, and I had to instrumentality 4 exams astatine the end.

"The SCM invited maine connected it portion I was inactive FC Aarau's coach, and erstwhile I near the occupation successful March I approached them arsenic I had much clip connected my hands.

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"I won't unfastened a food store consecutive away, but I volition decidedly bash thing with food adjacent year.

"It volition beryllium small-scale astatine archetypal - but I volition deliberation large astir the future."

Frei has "fondue" memories of Manchester United aft scoring 3 Champions League goals against the Red Devils successful 2011.

But helium mislaid his "Em-mental" composure during Switzerland's 3-0 Euro 2004 nonaccomplishment to England successful Portugal.

The striker was seen to spit astatine Three Lions midfielder Steven Gerrard, and landed a three-match ban.