Thibaut Courtois plans to play for another five or six years

20.09.26 FT LaLiga Spain

Atletico Madrid

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Real Madrid

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At 34, Thibaut Courtois does not appear to be considering retirement anytime soon. In an interview with Forbes, the Real Madrid goalkeeper discussed the next stage of his career and several possibilities for his post-playing career.

Courtois wants to play for several more years

The Belgian explained that he wanted to “play for another five, maybe six years”, without having set a precise timetable for the end of his career. Courtois has also agreed to take a step back from the Belgian national team for the upcoming Nations League matches. He then plans to return to the Red Devils for the European Championship qualifiers, while knowing that he will have to reclaim his place from the goalkeeper chosen by Mark van Bommel.

This situation had fueled speculation about a possible retirement after Euro 2028. However, Courtois’s comments to Forbes suggest that, for now, he is considering continuing beyond that deadline.

Several options for his post-playing career

The 34-year-old goalkeeper has not yet decided what he would like to do after his career. He notably mentioned the possibility of becoming a coach, while explaining that he did not know whether the profession would suit him. Courtois also showed interest in a possible role as goalkeeper coach at Real Madrid. Finally, he mentioned creating an academy as another possibility.

This season, the Belgian has already kept eight clean sheets with Real Madrid. For now, his comments primarily indicate a desire to continue playing for several years before turning his full attention to his post-playing career.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

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