Jérémy Mathieu, a former defender for the French national team and FC Barcelona, is now working as a sales associate at an Intersport store near Aix-en-Provence, France. The surprising career shift comes after a premature end to his professional football career due to a knee injury in October 2020 even as playing for Sporting Lisbon, and a subsequent period of depression.
The 42-year-old confirmed his employment at the sports retailer after a photograph of him assisting customers circulated on social media in April 2026. He initially attempted to remain involved in football through amateur leagues, playing for Luynes Sports in R2 between 2021 and 2023, but ultimately found himself seeking a different path.
“I tried to stay in football, like everyone does, in amateur football,” Mathieu stated in an interview on beIN Sports’ Safe Play program. However, he revealed that his current position at Intersport is linked to ongoing legal issues. “I can just say that I am in a lawsuit,” he said, declining to elaborate further. “If there is Intersport, it’s because something is happening that gives me a lot of worries.”
Mathieu’s transition was facilitated by Loïc Loval-Landré, a former teammate from the Sochaux youth academy. “He knew I wanted to get out of the house a bit, I hadn’t done anything for a while. While discussing, he told me: ‘There’s a position available,’” Mathieu explained. He added that the job was initially sought to re-establish a social life.
During his distinguished playing career, Mathieu represented Valencia and, most notably, FC Barcelona, where he won all major titles in 2015 alongside Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez. He also earned five caps for the French national team. Despite his success, the abrupt end to his career and the ensuing difficulties led to a period of depression, which he has been navigating with the support of friends and a renewed sense of purpose through his operate at Intersport.
Mathieu has refrained from discussing the specifics of the legal proceedings he is involved in, stating only that they are the reason for his current employment situation. He indicated he does not foresee remaining in retail indefinitely, but that it currently provides a necessary outlet and a degree of stability.
