From footballer to Buddhist monk: Swedish ex-player’s incredible transformation detailed on his Instagram page
- Kevin Lidin, who won promotion to Italy’s second tier in 2019, quit to move to Thailand and pursue a new life
- He retired from football because of injuries and underwent journey in search of healthier lifestyle
Former footballer Kevin Lidin used to play in front of thousands of fans in Italy, but he left it all behind to experience life as a Buddhist monk in Thailand.
In 2019, the Swede won promotion from Italy’s third tier with Pisa, whose Arena Garibaldi stadium holds up to 25,000 fans.
However, despite the adulation and semi-celebrity lifestyle, injuries forced him to retire two years later and he set out in search of a more tranquil life, a journey he has shared on social media.
Lidin’s Instagram account provides a graphic portrayal of his journey, with posts of him enjoying pizza and modelling clothes, slowly being replaced by ones where he promotes healthy eating and shows off yoga poses, before moving on to images of him as a monk.
In a video post pinned to the top of his page, Lidin shares footage of him on a flight last year with his long, blond hair intact, before it cuts to images of him with a shaved head and wearing the orange gown of monks recognisable in parts of Asia.
“Until I became a monk, I did not truly understand the importance of giving to other people,” Lidin wrote on his Instagram page. “When you give to someone, and it comes from your heart [not being forced] and the receiver accept the gift and appreciate it.
