Australian soccer legend Mark Bresciano tries his hand at growing medicinal weed

Football legend Mark Bresciano has swapped a successful career on the field for a new pursuit – growing medicinal marijuana.

Bresciano, 38, played for Australia 84 times and spent most of his career playing in the Italian Serie A.

Now retired, he has returned to Melbourne with his wife Renee with plans to begin growing cannabis.

‘I’m investing in property these days, and working on cultivating cannabis,’ he told The Sun.

‘At present I am studying with a partner who is working towards producing marijuana-based medicines within the next year.’

Bresciano’s company is called Greenhope, and he said he has picked out a site to start farming cannabis.

‘There is still a long way to go before we can produce cannabis-based drugs,’ he said.

‘For the moment we are going to Canada and the US to learn more, as well as Europe – where there are experts.’

Bresciano, 38, played for Australia 84 times and spent most of his career playing in the Italian Serie A 

Bresciano played mostly in Italy during his 20-year professional career, with lengthy spells at Parma and Palermo.

He was also a member of the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Socceroos World Cup squads.

‘I miss playing football. It is like a religion in Italy. But I have lost my passion for the professional game. I am just a spectator these days,’ he said. 

Bresciano’s company is called Greenhope, and he said he has picked out a site to start farming cannabis (ctock image)