Robert Pirès opened up about the moment when a professional footballer faces the end of his career and has to start looking for a new direction in life. “You know that one day it will end, but you’re never really prepared for it. Suddenly, you don’t have a club, you don’t have a contract, you’re no longer part of a team. I was lucky to play for nineteen years in France, England, Spain, and for the national team. Honestly, I had no idea what I would do after my career ended. People told me I could become a TV pundit, talk about football, and share my experience. In the end, I decided to give it a try, and since 2012 I’ve been working in the media. Thanks to that, I’ve stayed close to football,” he said.
The French legend also spoke about his love for football after retiring. “I miss football. The adrenaline, the feeling of being on the pitch, winning big matches, and being part of something bigger than yourself—nothing can replace that. I love football. Even now, I still play with friends. There’s no pressure anymore, it doesn’t matter if you lose, but the joy of playing is still there. That’s something that will never change.”
The full TV version of this episode of the Big Pete documentary series will be available on CANAL+ Sport and the CANAL+ streaming service in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Poland, Myanmar, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania, and Hungary, and on SuperSport in South Africa and Switzerland.