Ex-Barca star Jeremy Mathieu spotted as a manager in the sports store!

Ex-Barca star Jeremy Mathieu spotted as a manager in the sports store!

Jeremy Mathieu, a former FC Barcelona defender, has decided to take a new professional direction after his football career. The 41-year-old currently works at a local sports store, where he is one of the managers responsible for the football department. He was spotted at an Intersport branch between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille in southern France. The store has received hundreds of calls from fans wanting to meet the former player. Many are thrilled to meet a star from their region and talk to him about his time in professional football. Mathieu ended his active career with Luynes in France in October 2023 and can look back on an impressive time at renowned clubs.

Before his position in Luynes, Mathieu played for well-known clubs such as FC Valencia, FC Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon. He won the coveted treble with FC Barcelona in 2015 under coach Luis Enrique, playing a total of 91 games for the club and experiencing many unforgettable moments during these years.

Career changes and new opportunities

Mathieu's move into a sports store is not unusual for former professional footballers. They are often drawn to very different professional directions. How esmagazin.de reports, many former players are opting for a career in entrepreneurship or the media world. Some even take political positions, like George Weah, who has been President of Liberia since 2018.

Examples like Tim Wiese show that the range of professional reorientation is wide. After his career, the former professional goalkeeper at Werder Bremen turned to bodybuilding and later wrestling, where he became known as “The Machine”. In addition to these more unconventional paths, many ex-players also find joy in family life and are involved in charitable initiatives.

Post-career commitment

Many former footballers remain active in sport and are involved as trainers or in other areas of fitness. Many of them set up companies in various industries, relying on their reputation and experience from their professional careers. David Beckham and Ryan Giggs are also examples of the entrepreneurial ambitions of former players who have taken on new challenges outside the football pitch.

The return to normality and contact with fans, as in Mathieu's case, make it clear that the common denominator that connects many former players remains the love of sport - even after their playing careers have ended. The new ways can be just as fulfilling as playing at a high level.