This former Derby County full-back has contested a Champions League semi-final however now drives a taxi for a dwelling.
Former Derby County defender Lilian Martin is now a taxi driver (Picture: Getty)
Lilian Martin spent half a season at Derby County in 2001 having been a champion in France with Monaco and performed Champions League soccer. However the former full-back is now a taxi driver in Good.
Martin started his profession within the French decrease leagues earlier than becoming a member of AS Nancy. After being relegated in his second season, he moved to Dijon and later to USL Dunkerque, the place he spent three seasons. The defender’s massive break got here when he joined Monaco in 1996. There, he received the French top-flight title and performed in a Champions League semi-final in opposition to Zinedine Zidane’s Juventus. A stint with Marseille adopted in 1999, earlier than he headed to England and made 9 Premier League appearances for Derby. After retiring in 2002, Martin struggled and cut up from the mom of his first youngsters. A restaurant enterprise additionally failed, however the 54-year-old has since discovered pleasure in taxi driving, impressed by his new spouse’s father.
Chatting with L’Equipe about his retirement, Martin mentioned: “I had three or 4 years the place I misplaced my approach a bit. Then I met a girl from Good who bought me again on observe. Her father was a taxi driver.”
Martin says he initially tried teaching, nevertheless it wasn’t for him. He began with Monaco’s youth groups after which started working with academy prospects in Cannes.
“Between the dad and mom and every thing else, I had reached saturation level,” he added when requested about his stint as a coach. “What’s extra, you want a Bac+48 qualification,” he joked, suggesting in jest that changing into a coach would take 48 years after reaching a bachelor’s diploma.
Then, taxi driving fell onto his lap and he has been within the job ever since, having been urged to take it up by his new father-in-law. Martin continued: “He mentioned to me, ‘Strive taxi driving, you may see, you may adore it.’
Martin performed within the Champions League for Monaco (Picture: Getty)
“And I mentioned, ‘I do not need a boss. I need to stay free.’ I handed the examination. We began working one week every to get me used to it. And little by little, it occurred. And now, since January 1 [2026], it has been me 100 per cent.
“I see a number of folks in the course of the competition and Grand Prix durations… I’ve taken on former footballers too. I typically stumble upon Ludovic Giuly and I’ve pushed Djibril Cisse. There’s [ex-team-mate] Sonny Anderson, who did not recognise me with my white hair!”
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Martin opened up about his longest fare up to now while driving his German sedan. The previous Derby man admits he is taken passengers so far as Italy, particularly Milan.
“Milan. Fairly a trek,” Martin continued. “In instances like that, we do not use the meter. We agree on a worth with the shopper earlier than setting off. Taxi driving is a bit like soccer. Everybody sticks collectively, but when somebody can make the most of you, they may. So you continue to should maintain your eyes open.”
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