Fabio Coentrao is living a very different life after retiring from football

Fabio Coentrao lives a very, very different life after he called time on his glittering football career, aged 33.

Coentrao made his name at Benfica before earning himself a glamorous transfer to European giants Real Madrid in 2011.

He was teammates with Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese left-back helped the La Liga side to two league titles and two Champions League triumphs.

Coentrao made over 100 appearances for Real before departing the Santiago Bernabeu outfit in 2018.

He returned to his homeland, signing a deal with Rio Ave. He retired from football at the age of 33 and pursued another profession.

Coentrao became a fisherman after hanging up his boots, revealing his father's love for the water-based activity.

"The roots have been here since I was born," he said via The Sun.

"My father always had a boat, he was really into fishing. I used to go a lot with my father. I liked it very much.

"Whenever I had that bit of time off, whenever I was on holiday, my life was... it was the sea, it was fishing.

"And of course I knew that one day football would end, I would have to take another direction in my life."

Fabio Coentrao training alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Image: Getty

Coentrao, now 35, purchased his first fishing boat during his spell at Real, having grown up to love the ocean through his old man.

"Life in the sea is not a shame, as many people think," he added.

"It is a job like any other. Not only that, the sea is beautiful and we need it.

"It has that there are people working here and the profession should be respected like any other."

Last year, he built a team of 45 people, working across three active ships.

It's great to see Coentrao enjoying life beyond football and doing something he truly loves.