Former teammate Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona is now working in a store …
Former French football team and champions League winner with BarcelonaWho,, Jérémy Mathieu (41), he found a surprising new path after the end of his professional career. The man who shared a locker room with greats such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suárez, but also our Ivan Rakitic, lives a much different life today, works in a sports equipment store.
Ten years after winning the triple crown with Barcelona, including the most prestigious European trophy, 41-year-old Mathieu surprised the football world. Recently, social networks began to circulate photos where the former defender posed with customers in the Intersport logo and their name. According to L’Equipe, Mathieu works in a branch located between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille in the south of France.
Although the first assumptions were that it was a marketing trick, it was confirmed that Mathieu was really an employee of the trade. The sources state that he works in the football department, and some also mention that one of the heads of that department is or in charge of a particular part of the range. The company allegedly received hundreds of calls from fans who want to meet a former football star.
The footballer prefers a normal life
It is important to emphasize that some media points out by referring to Actufoot and Caden Serv, that Mathieu does not work out of the business. It is allegedly his choice because he preferred a routine and a normal life after years spent under the reflector lights. In addition to the shop at the store, Mathieu also devoted himself to education for a football coach, showing that he does not intend to leave the world of football completely.
Mathieu started his career in his native France, Sochaux, with which he won the League Cup in 2004. After that, he moved to Toulouse, where he affirmed as a reliable left back. He experienced a real take -off in Spain, playing for Valencia from 2009 to 2014. In the « bat » jersey he became one of the most respected La Liga defense players, known for his versatility because he successfully played in the position of left back and stopper.
He played 177 games for Valencia, scoring seven goals and registering 16 assists. His games attracted the attention of Barcelona, who, at the request of then -coach Luis Enrique, brings him to 2014 for 20 million euros to increase his defense.
In Barcelona was not standard
Although in the powerful Barcelona he failed to win the status of a standard first -grader next to Gerard Piqué and Javier Mascheran, Mathieu was an important part of the team rotation that won the historic triple crown, La League, King and Champions League Cup in his first season (2014/15). Luis Enrique appreciated his experience and the ability to play in multiple positions.
Barcelona fans especially remember his goal in El Clásic against Real Madrid in March 2015, when he scored his head for a 2-1 victory, which proved to be crucial in the fight for the championship title.
During the three seasons at Camp Nou (2014-2017), Mathieu scored 91 appearances, scored four goals and won a total of nine trophies: two La League, three King Cups, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA World Club Championship and Spanish Super Cup. With five appearances for the French national team, he shared the field with some of his generation greatest players.
