Four hundred professional matches, now on minimum wage: Christophe Deguerville's quiet career change

Christophe Deguerville played over 400 matches in Ligue 1 for Saint-Etienne, Lyon and Bastia, came close to earning a France cap and hung up his boots in 2003. Today, he starts his days before dawn stocking shelves in a supermarket. “I’ve become like millions of other French people, I earn a little more than minimum wage,” he told Progrès.

His case echoes that of Jérémy Mathieu, revealed last year: the former FC Barcelona defender and French international also opted for a career change in retail, as a football section manager in a sports store. The revelation sparked strong reactions. Deguerville, whose career was more modest but equally long, did not receive the same media attention.

When he retired from football, he first tried coaching youth teams, but quickly gave it up. “Most of them only dream of making money. They don’t have a passion for the game. And then the parents push from behind, convinced their child will make them millions,” he explained, adding soberly: “I don’t know if it’s sad. It’s just the world changing.”

He then turned to seasonal work in orchards before settling into his current position. Born in Île-de-France, he sees no form of downward mobility in this path. “After all, I only kicked a ball around. That remains my point of view,” he said with the same composure.

Despite nearly 250 matches in Saint-Etienne’s green shirt, Deguerville pays like any other supporter when he accompanies his daughter — a season ticket holder — to Geoffroy-Guichard.