In a stunning twist to his post-playing career, Spanish football icon Gerard Pique is reportedly set to lace up his boots once more. The 38-year-old defender, who retired in November 2022, has allegedly signed for FC Andorra, the Segunda División club he owns through his investment group Kosmos.
From Owner to Player: Pique's Surprising Return
While neither the club's official channels nor Pique himself have confirmed the move, reports from Spanish outlet RTVA state that the deal is done. The broadcaster adds that Pique could make his debut for Andorra on January 4, 2025, when the team travels to face AD Ceuta.
Pique purchased the club in 2018 when it was languishing in the fifth tier of Spanish football. Under his ownership, Andorra has enjoyed a remarkable rise, climbing to the second division. His return to the pitch, just over three years after his emotional farewell at Barcelona, marks an extraordinary new chapter.
A Decorated Career and Life After Barcelona
Gerard Pique's retirement brought the curtain down on one of modern football's most successful careers. Having joined Barcelona from Manchester United in 2008 for £5 million, he became a defensive cornerstone at the Camp Nou. His trophy haul with the Catalan giants is immense, including nine LaLiga titles and three UEFA Champions League crowns, contributing to a total of 30 major honours with the club.
On the international stage, he was a pivotal part of Spain's golden era, lifting the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 UEFA European Championship. His retirement followed shortly after his high-profile separation from singer Shakira, but he has remained deeply immersed in the sport.
Most notably, he founded the Kings League, a innovative seven-a-side tournament featuring celebrities and ex-pros like Ronaldinho, which blends football with entertainment and Twitch streaming. The competition recently secured a significant global broadcast deal with DAZN.
A Visionary's Critique of the Modern Game
Pique has been consistently vocal about his belief that football must evolve to retain younger audiences. In a podcast with former teammate Iker Casillas, he argued against dull goalless draws, suggesting a radical rule change where such matches would earn zero points and potentially 're-open' in the 70th minute.
"Football is entertainment, so it is not just competing with other sports," Pique stated. "It competes with Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, TikTok. Everyone has limited time. Football for 90 minutes is not as exciting." He has even proposed scrapping draws entirely, citing American sports like basketball and baseball as models where a definitive winner is always found.
Despite his innovative ideas, he has dismissed a move into football's traditional administrative bodies like FIFA or UEFA, describing them as "very boring" and resistant to change due to cumbersome committees and processes.
His return to playing, even in Spain's second tier, is a dramatic personal experiment. It remains to be seen if this is a short-term comeback or a longer-term project for the multifaceted entrepreneur and former champion, who once told Barcelona fans, "This is not a goodbye."
