Albeit a relatively rare occurrence, there have been several examples of footballers turning to other sporting codes after hanging up their boots.
Just this year, it was confirmed that former Nigeria and Premier League star Peter Odemwingie had attained his Professional Golfers' Association badges, with the former Stoke City attacker becoming a pro golf player after a 20-year football career.
Similarly, ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech also played professional ice hockey after hanging up his gloves at the end of the 2018/19 season.
It now appears that yet another former Premier League star has decided to trade soccer for another sport.
According to Cadena SER, ex-Tottenham Hotspur star Etienne Capoue has joined third-tier basketball team Jovens de L’Eliana in Valencia, Spain.
The move comes just months after his contract at Villarreal expired at the end of the 2023/24 season, culminating in the 36-year-old calling time on a career that began at French club Toulouse in 2007.
Interestingly, his former Villarreal teammate Dani Parejo told El Larguero in 2022 that Capoue actually "doesn't like football at all".
The Spanish midfielder explained: "He likes to play, he likes to train and he trains and competes... Every training session for him is like a final, but he doesn't like football at all.
"He doesn't watch a single match. You ask him to name three players from any LALIGA team and he doesn't tell you, he doesn't know. You ask him five Barcelona players and he doesn't know.
"He likes basketball."
From Football Pitch to Basketball Court
In a surprising turn in his sports career, former French international footballer Étienne Capoue has decided to retire from football to embark on a new adventure in basketball. At 36 years old, he has signed with the team Giticsa Jovens L'Eliana, currently competing in the fourth division of Spanish basketball (Tercera FEB).
Capoue has played for teams such as Toulouse, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, and Villarreal, winning the Europa League with the Submarine and earning the MVP in the 2021 final. Until last season, he continued to be an active football player, but after being left without a team in the summer, he chose not to seek a new contract. Instead, he opted to start his career in basketball, a sport in which he had never competed professionally, but for which he had already shown interest by training in a friendly manner with Valencia Basket while playing for Villarreal.
Capoue's New Chapter
Giticsa Jovens L'Eliana, based in Valencia, has become the chosen stage for Capoue to make this unexpected discipline change. In his debut with the L'Eliana team in a friendly match, Capoue showed promising flashes, scoring his first 5 points. While the adaptation will not be easy, his experience as an athlete and the anticipation and support of fans could be key factors in this transition.
Capoue's Basketball Debut
Capoue has made an unconventional career move after the ex-Tottenham and Watford star retired from football at the end of last season. According to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, the 36-year-old has signed with third-tier basketball team Jovens de L’Eliana in Valencia.
The Frenchman recently made his debut for his new team, helping them to a 78-70 victory over CB Morvedre.
Capoue's Football Legacy
Capoue decided to call it a day on his footballing career after being released by Spanish side Villareal with 148 appearances over a three-year spell with the club. The former France international spent two years at Spurs, making 36 appearances across all competitions before leaving to join Watford. The most notable moment of his career, however, came during his time in Spain, helping Villareal beat Man United to lift the Europa League trophy back in 2021.
His new team took to Instagram to celebrate their latest victory, with a smiling Capoue standing in the top-left of the picture.
A New Beginning
We will have to wait until October 13th to see the performance of the former footballer in official competition against Maristas de Valencia in Tercera FEB. Capoue's transition to basketball is a testament to his athleticism and his passion for the sport. It will be interesting to see how he fares in his new career. While many see this as a surprising career move, Capoue's decision is a reminder that athletes, like everyone else, can pursue their passions outside of their primary sport.
His new path could inspire others to follow their dreams and explore new horizons. It will be exciting to see what the future holds for Capoue on the basketball court.
