Quebecer Marc-Antoine Dequoy could not imagine himself in any other uniform than that of the Alouettes. However, he finally made the decision, at the age of 31, to retire from football.
“I am leaving serene, with peace of mind,” he assures.
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The official announcement was made Monday by the Alouettes organization. This is a huge turnaround, as negotiations between the player and the team continued over the recent weekend. Everything seemed in place for a one-year contract extension, but Dequoy chose to hang up his boots.
“There was a real desire to come back and we had an agreement on the table, but while talking with my loved ones for part of the night, I understood that my body was no longer ready for this type of sacrifice,” Dequoy briefly explained in a press release. I will never forget the city’s fans and all the love they gave me during my career.”
The popular player will be available Tuesday to comment more widely on the news to the media, as will Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia.
Difficult negotiations
It is clear that negotiations between the Alouettes and the Dequoy clan have been complicated in recent months. In fact, they stretched until February, in the run-up to the opening of the free agent market next week. Since the start of the off-season, the Quebec marauder was not one of the team’s top priorities.
The arrival of Jonathan Sutherland, announced on January 23, was the most recent blow to endure for Dequoy, who, at the next Alouettes training camp, should have fought fiercely to obtain a regular position within the defensive unit.
Dequoy will have the opportunity to further explain his thinking which led him to announce his retirement. However, he has never hidden his desire to have a career in the world of television and media.
“Retirement in sport is a taboo subject, hard to accept and approach,” he also confided, last October, in an interview with the cultural magazine 7 Days. We define ourselves a lot by our sport. Television has allowed me to discover myself more fully and I would like to continue to evolve in this environment, but it is not an easy or acquired career.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY TVA
The body has its limits
After participating in the broadcasts Big Brother Celebrities et Get me out of here!Dequoy also collaborated more recently on Hi Hello as a columnist.
“I just turned 31, it’s very young, but in football, it’s already an advanced age, especially when you play with 22-year-olds full of energy,” Dequoy also told 7 Days. I am aware that my body has a limit and I try not to be caught off guard when that day comes.”
Regarding his state of health, we know that Dequoy suffered a head injury on September 6, 2024 during a game against the British Columbia Lions. Struggling with certain symptoms related to a concussion, he missed the next two games. During the 2025 season, the Quebecer was in uniform for 15 of the team’s 18 games in the regular season before taking part in the three playoff games.
Dequoy concludes his career with a Gray Cup ring, won in 2023 with the Alouettes.
