Did you think retired footballers were content to commentate on matches or invest in pizza chains? Well, prepare for a surprise that’s out of the ordinary: a former striker for Olympique Lyonnais, the iconic Lyon club, has traded his boots for an acting career in a hit Netflix series. Yes, you read that right, football now rhymes with TV series and well-crafted scripts! This player, far from being an unknown, has even landed a major role in the famous Norwegian production “Home for Christmas,” available on the world’s favorite streaming platform. But how did this Lyon native go from the pitch to the film set? And why is this Christmas series such a smash hit? It’s a bit like Benzema becoming Sherlock Holmes overnight… Intriguing, isn’t it? In this delightful melting pot of football and entertainment, this former striker’s transition perfectly illustrates the evolution of modern sports careers. Gone is the cliché of the footballer turned TV pundit! Here, we’re talking about a new generation of athletes who are brilliantly reinventing themselves, both to entertain and surprise their fans. This move proves that sometimes, the hardest thing in life is to surpass your own goals… like that memorable one against Real Madrid that resonated throughout Lyon. So get ready to (re)discover this extraordinary journey, full of unexpected twists and turns, at the crossroads of sport and cinema.
Who is this former OL striker who became a Netflix actor?
No need to look among the new signings or young prodigies; this player graced the OL pitch almost twenty years ago. It’s John Carew, a Norwegian who laced up his boots in Lyon between 2005 and 2007. If his name doesn’t ring a bell in this new adventure, his football career remains quite memorable. With 53 matches and 17 goals to his name in a Lyon shirt, he’s particularly etched in the memories of the fans thanks to an unforgettable goal in the Champions League against Real Madrid. That’s no small feat, especially a backheel flick over Iker Casillas and from a pinpoint pass by Sylvain Wiltord!
After a move to Aston Villa in England during the 2006-2007 winter transfer window, Carew hung up his boots at just 32 years old in 2012. But in a kind of reverse Hollywood scenario, he didn’t simply bow out on the sidelines. He transformed himself into an actor, starting with a thriller called “Dead of Winter” less than two years after his last season of professional football. Since then, he has taken on a dozen roles in films and series, culminating in his role in season 3 of the hit Netflix series “Home for Christmas.” In this Norwegian show, a smash hit during the holiday season, he plays Adrian, a divorced father – a side of himself far removed from the pitch, but no less captivating. This successful transition into the world of entertainment opens doors for other former athletes who dream of taking on more ambitious roles than just making an appearance in a sports documentary. A career transition that proves talent isn’t limited to playing football, but can extend to physical expression and dramatic performance.
Why does “Home for Christmas” resonate so strongly with audiences?
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The success of “Home for Christmas” isn’t solely due to the presence of this former Lyon striker, even if it does provide a nice bonus for fans of football and suspenseful series. The key lies in a well-oiled formula blending humor, genuine emotion, and situational comedy around the holiday season. We follow Johanne, a hilarious nurse who tries to impress her family by claiming to be in a relationship, even though she hasn’t the slightest idea who to bring home for Christmas. This simple yet highly relatable premise, with a touch of tenderness, captivates an audience seeking both laughter and human warmth during this often stressful time of year.
The series began in 2019 and quickly became a local hit in Norway, with a second season in 2020. But it was this third season, featuring John Carew, that propelled the show to the top of the Netflix charts in the country. The platform indicates that the first two seasons are ranked 4th and 6th respectively among the most-watched series. Not bad for a story where the quest for love and the attempt to mask loneliness are central to the plot.
The series’ charm also lies in its ability to address universal themes in a way that avoids heavy dramas or slapstick comedies. We see the fragility behind the smiles, the small steps towards reconciliation, and the complexity of human relationships. And let’s be honest, seeing a former footballer so well-balanced in this role of a divorced man gives you a good excuse to binge-watch the entire season, doesn’t it?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbOGBzDj-9w The challenges of career transition: from football to hit series
Making the leap from professional football to television comedy isn’t for everyone. It’s not simply a matter of learning lines, but of embodying a role, understanding the nuances of acting, and adapting to a completely new world, unlike any other in the world of sports. For this former Lyon striker, the career transition required blending athletic discipline with a healthy dose of creativity and resilience.
You know, in football, the pressure, the competition, and the need to perform are sometimes comparable to shooting a scene in a single take, under the camera of a director who can be as tyrannical as a coach at the end of the season. But where acting demands a certain vulnerability and the ability to show multiple facets of a character, sports often favor a steely resolve and unwavering determination. Mixing these two worlds therefore requires a real commitment to mental health and self-reflection.
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This successful experience also shows that after the noise and frenzy of the stadiums, some players prefer a more introspective form of expression. Perhaps this is a way to cultivate a different image, one that isn’t limited to the passion for football but explores human emotions in all their complexity. Clearly, this unique blend of sport and entertainment enriches the media landscape and allows fans to connect with their idol beyond dribbling and goals. OL fans, why is this new artistic direction causing such a stir?
Among Lyon supporters, this career change of former players is generating a lot of buzz. It’s even creating a real excitement, because it shows that OL is no longer just a football club, but also a factory of captivating stories, where entertainment and storytelling take center stage. You can easily imagine the Groupama Stadium announcer saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, after the show on the pitch, here is John Carew, the new star of the small screen!” You can regularly check the club’s news throughout the seasons to stay up-to-date on transfers and juicy anecdotes about former players venturing into film or television. This is the case, for example, on platforms like Foot Mercato OL or Le 10 Sport where you can also follow the footballing twists and turns alongside these artistic journeys. This dynamic helps to strengthen Lyon’s image as a breeding ground for talent, not only on the pitch but also in front of the camera. The series “Home for Christmas” thus serves as an essential bridge between sport and pop culture, a bridge that more and more former players are now willing to cross. It’s almost as if the Parisian transfer market suddenly wanted to send its stars to Hollywood, in order to make headlines for reasons other than a 50 million transfer!
| Name | Years at OL | Matches played | Goals scored | Post-football |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Carew | 2005-2007 | 53 | 17 | Actor in “Home for Christmas” on Netflix |
| Alexandre Lacazette | 2009-2022 | 251 | 129 | Tentative successor at OL here |
| Willem Geubbels | 2017-2020 | 45 | 12 | Return to Ligue 1 after Switzerland details |
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What can we expect from the future of this former striker turned footballer?
While his role in the Netflix series has already brought him significant exposure, John Carew doesn’t seem to be slowing down. His frequent appearances on film sets and the diverse range of roles he takes on suggest that the former footballer could soon become a major figure in European entertainment. A sort of Norwegian Jason Statham, but with a punchier accent!
With this increased visibility, he could even join the select group of athletes who have become full-fledged actors, like Rachid Ghezzal, who recently expressed interest in returning to Olympique Lyonnais, proving that some people enjoy playing on multiple fields. This news item, reported on Le 10 Sport, clearly demonstrates that life after football is never static. And for fans, it’s truly inspiring to see former players reinvent themselves rather than succumbing to the cliché of the “failed footballer after his career.” This new artistic direction also helps break down stereotypes about athletes, offering them a new avenue of expression that, dare we say, is just as demanding as Ligue 1 or the Premier League.Who knows, the next time you’re channel surfing on Netflix, you might stumble upon a familiar face from Groupama Stadium and think, “Hey, look at him, he’s made a great career change!” All thanks to a clever mix of chance, talent, and a touch of fun.
- 17 goals scored, including a memorable one against Real Madrid.
- A successful transition to an acting career, a rare feat for a footballer. The series “Home for Christmas” topped the Netflix ratings in Norway. A career change that inspires former athletes and Lyon fans.
- Who is John Carew? John Carew is a former Norwegian striker for Olympique Lyonnais (2005-2007). He is now an actor in the Netflix series Home for Christmas.
- How did he manage his career transition?
- After retiring from football, John Carew pursued an acting career, starting with a thriller in 2014, before joining the popular Netflix series in 2025. Why is Home for Christmas so popular?
This series skillfully blends humor and emotion around the quest for love at Christmas, with endearing characters and a high-quality cast, which appeals to a wide audience.
Does OL follow other former players who have become actors?
Yes, Olympique Lyonnais and its fans follow the various artistic career changes of their former players with great interest, thanks to websites like Foot Mercato OL and Le 10 Sport.
Can we expect more similar surprises in the future?
Absolutely. John Carew’s successful career change opens the door for other former footballers who might want to try their luck in entertainment or film.
Source:
www.leprogres.fr
