Kevin Kampl opens up on life after football: gardening, grief and a new chapter in Majorca

Kevin Kampl, the 35-year-old former RB Leipzig and Slovenia international, has given a rare and candid interview about his new life away from football. Speaking to Bild, Kampl revealed that he has turned to gardening at his home on the Spanish island of Majorca, growing honeydew melons, watermelons, tomatoes, onions and peppers. The interview offers a glimpse into a quiet, grounded existence after a career that included 283 appearances for Leipzig, two DFB Cup titles, and spells at Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg.

Retirement and new beginnings

Kampl mutually terminated his contract with RB Leipzig in January 2026, six months before it was due to expire, and stepped away from professional football. He has since settled on Majorca, where he and his family have found peace. “The peace and quiet we have on Majorca has done us all a lot of good,” he told Bild. His gardening project has become a daily routine. “We have honeydew melons, watermelons, tomatoes, onions, peppers and plenty more. They all grow like crazy here. The olive oil we make here tastes delicious.”

The move away from the game was not a gradual decision but one forced by a series of personal tragedies. Kampl’s father and brother both died unexpectedly within a short period, leaving him to reassess his priorities. “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,” he said.

A difficult year

The losses that prompted Kampl’s early retirement were not widely reported at the time. The midfielder had been a key figure in Leipzig’s squad, making 15 appearances in the 2025-26 Bundesliga first half of the season before agreeing to end his contract. The club and teammates expressed their support publicly, but Kampl has now chosen to speak in detail about the emotional toll. His openness about grief and stepping away from the professional spotlight resonates with fans who have followed his career since his early days at Greuther Fürth and Osnabrück.

For a player who spent nearly a decade at a top Bundesliga club, the transition has been stark. “I always keep up to date with what RB Leipzig are doing, and I’ll continue to do so,” he said. “I will also be in the city a lot, so who knows what the future might bring.”

A decorated career

Kampl’s professional journey is one of steady progress. He began in Germany’s lower divisions with Greuther Fürth, Osnabrück and Aalen, then moved to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, where he won the Austrian Bundesliga and the ÖFB-Cup. A move to Borussia Dortmund in 2015 followed, but it was at RB Leipzig, after his summer 2017 transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, that he made his most lasting impact. Over eight seasons, he made 283 appearances, scored 14 goals, and won back-to-back DFB Cup titles in 2022 and 2023. He also earned 28 caps for Slovenia, representing his country at senior level.

Keeping the door open

Despite his retirement, Kampl has not ruled out a future role in football. He remains closely connected to Leipzig, both as a fan and as a former player who lives part of the year in the city. “Who knows what the future might bring,” he said, leaving the possibility of a return to the club in some capacity open. For now, however, his focus is on family, the garden, and the quiet life on Majorca.

For FootballGames10 readers, Kampl’s story is a reminder that even the most durable Bundesliga professionals face moments that reshape their lives. His decision to speak honestly about grief and the simplicity of growing vegetables is a rare, human glimpse behind the statistics and trophies. It also underscores the importance of mental health and personal resilience in a sport that often demands constant performance.

Source: Bundesliga – Kevin Kampl opens up on life after football (https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/kevin-kampl-life-after-football-spanish-farm-leipzig-38362)