Stephane Guivarc'h, the former Newcastle United striker who scored just one goal for the club but won the 1998 World Cup with France, has swapped football for a career selling swimming pools. The 55-year-old now works for a friend's company in the leisure sector, a stark contrast to his days on the pitch.
From World Cup Glory to Pool Sales
Guivarc'h earned 14 caps for France and was part of the squad that triumphed on home soil in 1998, defeating Brazil 3-0 in the final. Despite not scoring in the tournament, he played a key role by occupying defenders and creating space for teammates. His club career included stints at Auxerre, Newcastle United, and Rangers, where he won multiple trophies before retiring in 2002 at En Avant Guingamp.
Ghosting Teammates
Unlike many of his 1998 World Cup-winning colleagues who moved into punditry, Guivarc'h has chosen a private life and severed contact with most of them. Former teammate Emmanuel Petit expressed disappointment in an interview with L'Equipe, saying: "It's been far too long since we've heard from him. I don't really know his reasons; I've heard all sorts of rumours, but it's a shame he wanted to sever ties with the World Cup. It's something that transcends us, that doesn't truly belong to us, but that binds us until the end of our lives." Petit added: "I'd like to see him again, and I think I'm not the only one, because his name comes up often when we get together. In a way, we miss him."
Family Reasons for Leaving Football
Guivarc'h has previously explained his decision to walk away from football at age 31. He said: "I could have stayed in football, but I didn't because it's a life choice. After my football career, I lost my mother. My father was left all alone, and I decided to stay with him, to help him. And then I stayed here in Concarneau, where all my family is." Over 339 matches, he scored 169 goals and won four domestic honors, including the Scottish league and cup double with Rangers and the French league and Intertoto Cup with Auxerre. His single goal for Newcastle came during his brief spell at the club.
