Career-ending injury leads to emotional struggle

Former French international Jérémy Mathieu has spoken openly about the emotional challenges of retiring from football after a career-ending knee injury in 2020. The injury, a torn anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Sporting CP, ended his playing career abruptly and left him struggling with depression for four years.

Void left by football's absence

Mathieu described feeling a profound void after leaving the sport, stating that the pitch, changing rooms, and all aspects of his former life were deeply missed. He admitted he had not prepared for life after football due to the sudden nature of his injury.

Isolation and difficulty adjusting

Mathieu recounted how he spent 24 hours a day at home for four years, feeling lost and unable to engage with the sport he once loved. He mentioned watching only half of matches and abandoning them if the result was a draw, describing a period of intense isolation.

Support and new beginnings

His wife played a crucial role in helping him recover, and he eventually took on a temporary sales job at Intersport in Plan-de-Campagne, near Marseille, which he credits with helping him regain his footing and reintegrate into social life.

Transition to coaching

Currently, Mathieu is pursuing a coaching qualification (BEF) and is coaching the U15 team at Aix-en-Provence. He aims to work in a youth development center, signaling a shift towards a new chapter in his life focused on football coaching.