New job for Eden Hazard – wine production

Eden Hazard has traded the roar of Stamford Bridge for the calm of the vineyard, unveiling an unexpected post-football chapter as a winemaker. The former Chelsea talisman, now 35, has joined forces with Italian wine entrepreneur Fabio Cordella to introduce a personal collection of red and white wines.

Best remembered for seven breathtaking Premier League seasons built on balance, flair and close control, Hazard has quietly embraced life away from the spotlight since retiring in 2023 — and this new project reflects that low-key evolution.

Once renowned for serving up moments of brilliance on the pitch, Hazard is now aiming to craft something just as refined in the bottle. Working alongside Cordella, a prominent figure in Italian wine and a former football executive, the Belgian is lending his name to a range designed to mirror the qualities that defined his game, promising a blend that is as “elegant and intense” as his peak performances.

The bottles will be produced in Salento, a region in southern Italy famed for its rich soil and sun-drenched vineyards, with Hazard’s name taking centre stage on the label. Cordella, who previously held sporting director roles at several clubs, including Union Saint-Gilloise, spoke enthusiastically about the partnership.

“Eden Hazard’s official wine is arriving very soon,” Cordella announced. “When Belgian talent meets the excellence of premium Italian wine, it creates a vintage in Eden’s image – elegant, intense and iconic. A wine of character, born in the earth of Salento, and with the signature of the Fabio Cordella Wines family business.”

Sales are scheduled to begin next month in Italy and Belgium, allowing Hazard’s homeland to be among the first to sample the collection. By stepping into the wine business, the former winger follows in the footsteps of other global football icons associated with Cordella’s brand, such as Ronaldinho and Gianluigi Buffon.

Since calling time on his playing days in October 2023, Hazard has deliberately avoided football’s usual post-career pathways. While many ex-stars gravitate toward television studios or coaching roles, he has opted for a quieter existence. That choice followed a frustrating final chapter at Real Madrid, where injuries repeatedly denied him the chance to reproduce the dazzling form that once made him one of Europe’s most feared attackers.

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Signed for 90 million pounds in 2019, Hazard featured only 76 times over four seasons in Spain. Though he lifted two La Liga trophies and a Champions League medal, his individual influence remained limited, eventually leading to an early contract termination.

Retiring at 32 raised eyebrows, but Hazard has always insisted that stepping away early allowed him to prioritise family and personal happiness — a philosophy that now appears perfectly matched by his move into the world of wine.