Ex-Champions League star has wholesome new job after retiring due to double tragedy

It’s easy to forget that the superstar footballers we see competing in the Champions League are, in fact, real-life people, with real-life issues. That has proved exactly the case for Kevin Kampl, a German-born professional footballer who represented Slovenia at international level.

Most of Kampl’s career has been spent in Germany, with stints at the likes of Greuther Furth, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund. But it’s for his time with RB Leipzig that Kampl is best known, having been with the Bundesliga side from 2017 to 2026.

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It was earlier this year though when Kampl decided to leave football behind completely. In the early part of January 2026, Kampl came to an agreement with Leipzig that allowed him to terminate his contract with the Red Bull-owned outfit.

The reason for his abrupt exit from the sport was due to a family tragedy in Slovenia, with his brother having passed away just months before his dad also died. The double heartbreak left Kampl unable to continue with his playing career, with the 35-year-old deciding to pack it in altogether.

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Nowadays, he can be found working as a vegetable and fruit farmer in Majorca, and has welcomed this new chapter of his life. Speaking in an update, the Leipzig legend told Bild: “We have honeydew melons, watermelons, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and plenty more.

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“They all grow like crazy here. The olive oil we make here tastes delicious. I have had a pretty s*** year – there is no other word for it.

“Life has to go on, even though it has been very difficult to accept everything that has happened. But the peace and quiet we have on Majorca has done us all a lot of good.

“I always keep up to date with what RB Leipzig are doing, and I’ll continue to do so. I will also be in the city a lot, so who knows what the future might bring.”

Meanwhile, when he announced his exit, Kampl told the Leipzig fans: "Dear fans, first and foremost, I would like to thank you for the eight and a half wonderful years that I was able to play here. You gave me a home.

“I felt so comfortable from day one, also with my family. It [the Red Bull Arena] was my living room. You have always had my back. We have celebrated successes, we have overcome lows – but always as a unit. I am extremely grateful to you for always seeing me as one of you."

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