The forgotten former team-mate of Cristiano Ronaldo is now living a ‘dream life’ as FISCHER after retiring at 33
FABIO COENTRAO gave up professional football at the age of 33 to become a fisherman.
The former Portugal full-back played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for both Real Madrid and his country.
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Coentrao and Ronaldo became friends during their playing days together.
But unlike CR7, Coentrao hasn’t opted to continue playing into his 30s.
The former left winger was at Real Madrid between 2011 and 2018.
He played over 100 times for the Spanish giants and won the Champions League twice.
After leaving Real Madrid, he played for Rio Ave in Portugal before focusing on his other passion – fishing.
Coentrao bought his first fishing boat while still at Real as his father raised him to love the sea.
He said, “The roots have been here since I was born.”
“My father always had a boat, he loved fishing.”
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Coentrao, now 35, added: “I used to travel a lot with my father. I liked it very well.”
“Whenever I had that little break, whenever I was on vacation, my life was… it was the sea, it was fishing.
“And of course I knew that one day football would end and I would have to take a different direction in my life.”
“My happiness is this land, the sea. And so of course I want to live this life.”
By last year, Coentrao had built a team of 45 people working on three active ships.
He is excited to have so many younger people working with him as he is passionate about encouraging people to follow in his footsteps and work in the industry.
While Ronaldo loves spending time on superyachts, Coentrao is quite content on a trawler.
In conversation with the Empower Brands channelHe said: “Sea life is not a disgrace as many people think.”
“It’s a job like any other. In addition, the sea is beautiful and we need it.”
“There are people who work here and this profession should be respected like any other.”
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