From Champions League Winner to Full-Time Fisherman: Where is Fábio Coentrão Now?
In a remarkable career twist, former Real Madrid and Portugal defender Fábio Coentrão – once a Champions League winner – has traded the glamour of elite football for the humble life of a fisherman. For this onetime star left-back, early mornings at sea have replaced nights under stadium lights as he navigates a very different path. Let’s take a look at Fábio Coentrão’s life after his football career.
Two Champions League Titles
His impressive performances at Benfica, where he won a Portuguese league title, earned Coentrão a move to Real Madrid in 2011. At Madrid, the left-back shared the dressing room with global stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and collected major silverware, while staying for over seven seasons in Spain. Coentrão lifted nine major trophies alongside Ronaldo, including two UEFA Champions League titles. Despite often playing second fiddle to Marcelo at the club, he was a mainstay for Portugal’s national team. Coentrão earned 52 caps for his country between 2009 and 2017 and was a standout at Euro 2012, where he made the tournament’s All-Star squad. After loan spells with AS Monaco and Sporting CP, the former Real Madrid player returned to his boyhood club Rio Ave, ultimately hanging up his boots in his early thirties to close a remarkable playing career.
Check out this story to find out about Coentrão’s Real Madrid teammate Marcelo, who retired in early 2025 among various other succesful players.
Life After Football: Fisherman & Boutique Gin Company
After retiring in 2021, Coentrão did something few ex-footballers do – he became a fisherman in his hometown coastal region in the north of Portugal. Building on his late father’s legacy, he invested in a small fleet of three fishing boats and now leads a crew of about 45 young fishermen. According to Coentrão, this life brings him peace and purpose, as he proudly insists that “life in the sea is not a shame… it is a job like any other”, and that his “happiness is [with] this land, the sea… I want to lead this life.”
Watch this video to learn more about Fábio Coentrão’s new life at sea.
In addition to his work at sea, the ex-defender has ventured into business on land, becoming a partner in a boutique gin company called Gin Pablo. Nevertheless, this idyllic transition hasn’t been without its challenges, as in early 2025, authorities alleged his fishing operation lacked proper licenses, reportedly seizing about a tonne of illegal seafood from his warehouse. Despite this setback, Coentrão appears content with the path he’s chosen. Ultimately, after years of rubbing shoulders with football’s elite, Fábio Coentrão seems perfectly happy swapping the spotlight for a simpler, saltier way of life on the ocean.
