What Happened? Ex-Premier league star now makes living as taxi driver

This former Derby County full-back once graced a Champions League semi-final but now earns his living behind the wheel of a taxi in Nice.

Lilian Martin spent part of the 2001 season at Derby County, arriving with an impressive résumé that included a French league title with Monaco and experience on Europe’s biggest stage. Today, however, the 54-year-old works as a taxi driver on the French Riviera.

Martin began his career in France’s lower divisions before moving to AS Nancy. After suffering relegation in his second season, he went on to represent Dijon and USL Dunkerque, spending three years with the latter. His breakthrough came in 1996 when he signed for Monaco.

There, he lifted the Ligue 1 title and featured in a Champions League semi-final against Zinedine Zidane’s Juventus. A spell at Marseille followed in 1999 before he moved to England, making nine Premier League appearances for Derby. He retired in 2002.

Life after football proved challenging. Martin went through a difficult period, separating from the mother of his first children, and a restaurant business he launched failed to succeed.

Speaking to L’Equipe, he admitted: “I had three or four years where I lost my way a bit. Then I met a woman from Nice who got me back on track. Her father was a taxi driver.”

He initially tried his hand at coaching, working with Monaco’s youth teams and later academy players in Cannes, but found it wasn’t the right fit. “Between the parents and everything else, I had reached saturation point,” he said, joking that becoming a coach required a “Bac+48” qualification.

Taxi driving came about after encouragement from his partner’s father. “He told me, ‘Try taxi driving, you’ll see, you’ll love it.’ I didn’t want a boss. I wanted to stay free,” Martin explained. After passing the necessary exams and gradually easing into the job, he has been working full-time since January 1, 2026.

The role has brought unexpected encounters. During festival and Grand Prix periods in Nice, he often ferries high-profile passengers, including former footballers such as Ludovic Giuly, Djibril Cissé and ex-team-mate Sonny Anderson — who once failed to recognise him with his white hair.

Martin also revealed that his longest journey so far has taken him to Milan. “Quite a trek,” he said, explaining that such trips are agreed at a fixed price beforehand rather than using the meter.

Drawing a comparison with his playing days, he added: “Taxi driving is a bit like football. Everyone sticks together, but if someone can take advantage of you, they will. So you still have to keep your eyes open.”