Watch: Can lessons from football shape success in poker?
Liverpool legend John Arne Riise sat down with Ivonne Montealegre, SiGMA Poker Tour Manager, for the SiGMA Poker Face Podcast, opening up about his remarkable journey from elite football to the world of poker. As a SiGMA Poker Tour Ambassador, Riise spoke candidly about the crossover skills, the lessons of discipline and his growing passion for poker.
The shift from football to poker
Riise revealed that poker had been a quiet interest throughout his football career. “I have always been interested in poker even when I play football. We used to play different kinds of poker on the bus to the games, in the hotel before games, just for enjoyment,” he recalled. What started as light-hearted games among teammates planted seeds for a long term passion.
When he retired from professional football, poker quickly became more than a hobby. The game offered him strategy, challenge and a new way of experiencing the world. “I just love traveling. I love meeting new people in different areas of the world. And I think sitting at the poker table is the best way to connect with people,” Riise said. “That social communication with different people and at the same time competing against each other, it just gives me a buzz.”
Lessons from football
The skills honed during his career with Liverpool, Roma and the Norwegian national team continue to serve Riise well. Years of discipline, preparation and relentless training gave him a mindset that naturally carries over into poker “I love working hard to be better at something. If it’s physical or in poker, you have to practice to be good. I know I’m not gonna be the best poker player in the world but I wanna put in the work and learn from the best.”
That commitment to self-improvement is a hallmark of Riise’s career but poker presents a very different kind of challenge, “My challenge is patience in poker. Being able to sit for hours and just play the right hands, not get impatient and make silly mistakes. That’s what I’m trying to learn. That’s why I need to play more tournaments. Because the only way you learn is to play more.”
Football memories and mindset
Reflecting on his playing days, Riise admitted that life as a professional footballer could feel surprisingly routine. “When you’re in the moment, you sometimes forget to enjoy it because every day it just goes, flies by. You don’t have time to do anything else. My tool is my body, if my body’s not a hundred percent prepared mentally and physically, I play badly and lose my place in the team.”
One of his greatest memories was winning the UEFA Champions League in 2005 with Liverpool. “That was amazing. I was only 24 years old. When I lifted the trophy, I remember thinking, nobody can take this away from me now. All the hard work and sacrifices were worth it.”
Growing into the poker world
Now, poker is becoming a defining chapter in Riise’s life, offering him both a new passion and a new stage on which to compete. “The dream is to travel around Europe and the world to play different tournaments. Obviously, I wanna win stuff but just traveling around and showing people how good the poker community is, how much of a family it feels, it’s something I really enjoy.”
That community spirit is balanced by the unique pressure of being a recognisable face at the tables. His years in football made him a household name and that fame follows him into poker. “Most of the people around my table know who I am. They so badly wanna beat me. Sometimes I overthink, are they just doing it because they wanna beat me, or do they have good hands?”
Despite this added layer of scrutiny, Riise thrives on the challenge. The competitive edge that drove him on the pitch remains strong. “Yes, poker sometimes you can say it’s luck. But at the end of the day, you win because you’re the best player overall. That competitive feeling when you’re sitting around the table, it’s me against the others, I just love that feeling.”
SiGMA and the Poker Tour
Riise has also immersed himself in the wider SiGMA community. Talking about his experience at SiGMA Euro-Med this past week he emphasised the scale and community spirit of the event, “It’s unbelievable to see how many people, how many stands you can fit in one place. Everybody’s working for the same thing. It’s nice to get involved, to communicate, to learn about the business, and to see how open and inviting people are,” he said.
This weekend, he joins players at the SiGMA Poker Tour, bringing his competitive edge and his trademark humility to the tables. “I just love being a part of everything now and being able to travel around, be involved in the poker business and everything around it.”
Be part of the poker journey
Catch John Arne Riise and other poker greats at the SiGMA Poker Tour, happening right now until 07 September alongside the SiGMA Euro-Med Summit 2025. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action, whether at the tables or networking with industry leaders in Malta.
