Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ current contract expires in the summer of 2027, but he has no plans to consider retirement anytime soon as the 34-year-old spoke about life beyond football, including his business ventures.
Speaking to Managing Madrid’s Sam Leveridge on the sidelines of the World Football Summit in Madrid, the Real Madrid goalkeeper revealed “I still want to play five or six more years”. On his retirement plans, he confessed that despite holding UEFA A and B licenses, “I’m
not sure I would want to be a coach of a first team, you would get old really fast with all the players”.
Instead, he sees himself establishing an elite goalkeeping pipeline at Real Madrid. “Maybe working in the goalkeeping department at Real Madrid, developing a Courtois instead of buying one. They’re doing a very good job with it already, but maybe I can help them to grow.”
Courtois was at the World Football Summit to speak about his business ventures with investment group NXTPLAY, and credited coaches he has worked with for teaching him many of his skills. “Leadership is something important, the way to delegate and surround yourself with people who understand,” he said. “Learning from people like Ancelotti and Mourinho, who are very different but very good leaders and know how to build a team.”
The showstopper still has one match he wants before he retires, and it’s one he’s waited his whole career for: facing his boyhood club, KRC Genk, who he is now a part owner of through the investment group NXTPLAY. “My dream was always to play against Genk. It’s never happened,” he said. A chance arose back in 2012, when Courtois was on loan at Atlético Madrid and the Europa League draw threatened to pair the two sides, but the pot system kept them apart. “It couldn’t be, and they had to go into a different pot to us, so I was a bit sad.”
He has not given up on it happening before he stops playing. “Let’s see, maybe we can help Genk to grow. A Genk versus Real Madrid Champions League match would be a dream way for me to finish my career.”
