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Oct 25, 2026, 5:00 AM GMT
Hal is an experienced freelance sports journalist at GiveMeSport, having previously produced content for websites such as Goal, football.london, HertsLive, 90min, The Set Pieces and many others.
Hal picked up his MA in Sports Journalism and NCTJ qualification from St Mary's University Twickenham, Hal has since been part of Valnet since late 2021.
He started as a freelance football writer for This Is Futbol and carried that on over to FootballFanCast before becoming their social media editor. He now works as an editor for GiveMeSport, predominantly focusing on Premier League, Champions League, and English football.
He also helps GiveMeSport cover other major sports such as MMA, boxing, darts, tennis, and golf. Key events like the summer and winter Olympics are also highlights when they appear on the sporting calendar.
Hal is an Arsenal and Three Lions fan, but keeps an eye on the All Blacks, his favourite rugby team, having grown up in New Zealand.
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While it may feel like the norm in football for players to become coaches and pundits during retirement, not everyone follows that route. Every now and then, a story emerges of one ex-pro living a completely different life, joining the list of footballers who have taken on unusual jobs after retiring.
Most recently, ex-Manchester City striker Imre Varadi made headlines as he now sells inflatable bananas, which have become very popular at the Etihad in recent times. There's still an obvious football connection there but the same cannot be said for Gavin Peacock. The former Newcastle United and Chelsea player stepped away from the sport to settle in Canada and pursue ministry at Calvary Grace Church.
Former West Ham United star Hugo Porfirio can add his name to the ever-growing list of former Premier League stars making money away from the pitch.
The Portuguese winger started out his career with Sporting CP and was loaned out to West Ham for the 1996/97 season. He made 27 appearances for the Hammers in total, with 23 of those coming in the Premier League.
In that time, he scored four goals and picked up one assist, but it was enough to see the move made permanent. He later returned to England for another loan in 1999, this time playing for Nottingham Forest.
Although he played three times for his country – making an appearance at Euro 96 – Porfirio endured what is best described as a journeyman career, playing for teams like Benfica, Racing Santander, Al Nassr and a number of lesser-known clubs in his native Portugal before retiring in 2008. After hanging up his boots, he spent some time coaching and was part of the backroom team at Sporting from 2012 to 2013.
Fast-forward to 2026, however, and the three-time capped former Portugal international is making money away from football with a new job.
The 53-year-old has now been spotted driving an Uber in Portugal‘s capital city. As per The Sun, Influencer Andre Ramalho revealed the ex-Hammers ace on social media in October 2026.
Ramalho explained how he was shocked to learn that Porfirio was his Uber driver when using the app with a friend, recalling:
“We had a ten-minute walk to make, but we were late and tired, so we decided to call an Uber.
"We were amazed by the guy driving the car. How could he be doing something so ordinary?
“This is the fella who played at Euro 96, and played alongside Rui Costa, Luis Figo and Vitor Baia.
“He is the coolest guy of all time, and a great bloke as well. He also drove very well. Footballers aren’t usually known as good drivers!”
After Ramalho’s post received thousands of likes on Instagram, Porfirio’s daughter Madalena paid tribute to him, writing: “My father is a machine.”
It's certainly quite the career change.
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