How many footballers in the world would have liked to have a career as Fabio Coentrão. The former defender, 2-time Champions League champion with the Real Madrid, He has been away from the fields for a long time and is dedicated to a very different field than football: the sea and fishing.
As is already known, a footballer’s career usually lasts around 20 years. Some of them decide to retire between 35-40 and then continue making their way as a technical director, representative, journalist or some profession linked to ball. However, Coentrão decided to join the long list of players who moved away from the flashes of that world to dedicate themselves to a passion that he has had since he was a child.
With ups and downs, and with a very different current situation, the former Portuguese winger had an important career on the pitch. He played for great European teams and won the most important titles at the club level; Let’s review his path.
What was Fábio Coentrão’s football career like?
The one born in Vila do Conde, Porto, debuted in the first team at a very young age. In the 04-05 season, at only 16 years old, he wore the team’s shirt for the first time. Rio Ave FC of the Portuguese first division.
Between 2005 and 2010, Coentrão had brief spells in different teams: Benfica, National CD, Royal Zaragoza And a second cycle at Rio Ave. For the former defender it was not an easy task to settle in a team, until in 2009 he had a good season with the club that owned his pass: Benfica. After 2 years with good performances in “El Glorioso”, the real Madrid He set his sights on him, signing him for 30 million euros.
In August 2011, the Portuguese made his official debut playing against Barcelona in a Spanish Super Cup series. A year later, the ex-lateral got his first titles with “La Casablanca” (Spanish League and Super Cup).
Already in 2014, the Portuguese managed to win one of the most longed-for titles in the world of football for the first time: the Champions League. In May of that year, Real beat Atlético de Madrid 4-1 and Coentrao played that match as a starter. The former defender had the notable task of standing out in a team of figures such as: Boxes, Ramos, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Say Maria, baleamong others.
Until 2015, the Portuguese alternated starting and substituting moments because the historic Brazilian defender played in his position, Marcelo. Furthermore, the injuries did not accompany the moment and kept Fabio away from the courts momentarily.
After a year of irregularity, a negative characteristic in his career, the defender had a brief stint Monaco of France. Already in 2016, with his return to Madrid, won his second Champions League accompanied by another Club World Cup.
Not having enough playing time due to injuries and not being taken into account, the Portuguese began the beginning of the end of his career. In 2017 he wore the shirt of the Sporting Lisbon until returning again to the club where this whole story began: River Ave.
In 2018, a period of comings and goings began in the team of his homeland, until in 2021and without officially communicating it because he had been without a club for a year, Fabio hung up his boots.
Although injuries and different circumstances in life have not allowed him to have continuity in the clubs where he played, the Portuguese closed a stage by winning important titles such as: 3 League Cups and 1 Primeira Liga in Portugal, 2 Champions Leagues, 2 Club World Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 2 Spanish Leagues, 1 Super Cup and 1 King’s Cup.
Likewise, there is a no small detail: Fabio played in the World Cup South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 with your selection. Despite having been unstable in his career, the former defender can claim that he was a World Cup player, something that not all professional footballers can say.
After being formally without a club for a year, At 33, Coentrão decided to completely distance himself from football to dedicate himself to a passion that united him with his family history.
What Fábio Coentrão did after his retirement
When he was at Real Madrid he bought his first boat. Fabio Coentrão’s life today is based on sea and fishing. After football, the Portuguese decided to go down the path that made him happy as a child.
When he was a child and on vacation, Fabio used to accompany his father to the boats to do his work. Now 36 years old, the former defender It has 3 boats and a crew of 45 people.
Coentrão in interview
“My life was the sea: the sea and fishing. Of course, I knew that football would one day end and that I would have to take a new direction in my life. And my happiness is this boat and this is the life I want to lead,” Coentrão commented in an interview with Empower Brand Channel. In the same interview he said that Its future goal is to extend its fleet to 10 ships. and that he is willing to dream about it: “I was born poor, I don’t mind dying like this.”
Living on and for boats the Portuguese feels happy. From touching the sky with his hands with Real Madrid, to working in the seas, Fabio Coentrão is one of the many stories of footballers who completely distanced themselves from football and decided to seek fulfillment in other fields.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
