Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra is preparing for a dramatic career shift as he gets ready to make his professional MMA debut. The 43-year-old, who retired from football in 2019, has reportedly been secretly training in kickboxing for the past decade while planning this surprising sports transition.
Evra's decorated football career saw him claim five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy during his time at Manchester United. Now, the former France international has signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) to compete in a completely different athletic arena.
PFL Managing Director James Frewin revealed that Evra has been seeking the right opportunity to launch his fighting career since hanging up his football boots. 'He's always been training behind the scenes for the last ten years in combat, with a focus on kickboxing,' Frewin explained during a recent interview.
The match is scheduled for Friday, May 23rd at the Accor Arena in Paris, though Evra's opponent remains unannounced. What has been confirmed is that kickboxing legend and MMA fighter Cedric Doumbe will be in Evra's corner, providing essential guidance as he transitions to combat sports.
In an interesting twist, Evra might also have some famous football personalities in his corner on fight night. According to Frewin, French football icons Zinedine Zidane or Thierry Henry could potentially accompany the former defender to the cage, adding star power to an already intriguing event.
According to Statbet analysis, career transitions between football and combat sports remain extremely rare, with Evra becoming one of the few high-profile footballers to attempt professional MMA competition.
In a particularly provocative move, Evra has called out former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez for a potential future matchup. The two famously clashed during their Premier League days, and Suarez has reportedly been offered a cageside seat for Evra's debut bout. While the Uruguayan forward is still actively playing football with Inter Miami at 38, preliminary discussions about a possible grudge fight have already begun.
Whether this surprising career pivot will prove successful remains to be seen, but Evra's preparation over the past decade suggests he's taking this new athletic challenge with the same determination that characterized his football career.
