Ahead of France v Norway, Daniel Braaten is working as a carpenter near Oslo | OneFootball

On the eve of France v Norway in Foxborough at 21:00 on Friday, Daniel Braaten, the former Toulouse winger cherished by supporters, has long since stepped away from football, retiring in 2020. According to L'Équipe, he now works as a carpenter near Oslo, a trade he learned before turning professional.

Now 44, he made 157 Ligue 1 appearances for Toulouse between 2008 and 2013, scoring 13 goals. He is the Norwegian to have played the most Ligue 1 games, well ahead of Aron Dönnum and full-back Birger Meling.

In Haute-Garonne he was seen as an enigma, powerful and willing yet sometimes ponderous. A year later he was still tagged gifted but inconsistent, though his easy manner and French made him popular at the club.

Over time his goals and elusive character won over the TFC crowd, who dubbed him the Koala for his legendary heaviness and habit of switching off during matches. In May 2013, as his exit loomed, fans launched an online petition urging president Olivier Sadran to keep him.

Recent efforts to reach Braaten proved fruitless, and he did not respond to repeated messages after his playing days ended.

He is said to be well regarded in his Oslo neighbourhood for his carpentry and keeps himself fit. He is now bald and has been spotted cross-country skiing with his children in winter forests near the city.

He may well watch Friday’s game with his family, a fixture that is likely to carry particular significance for him.

Source: L'Équipe