9 Football Stars Who Underwent Dramatic Body Transformations After Retiring - talk2soccer

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9 Football Stars Who Underwent Dramatic Body Transformations After Retiring

11 months ago
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by talk2soccer


In brief
After retirement, some football players experience drastic physical changes. Ze Roberto, a former defender for Bayern Munich, once said he was in excellent enough shape to play for Manchester City in 2022.
After hanging up his boots, Fernando Torres, who was agile and relatively little when he played for Chelsea and Liverpool, has suddenly bulked up significantly.
With the assistance of his personal trainer, Mesut Ozil, who only retired in March 2023, has been gaining muscle over the past 12 months.
Football players are expertly conditioned to handle the intensity of the beautiful game, yet there are a few exceptional exceptions to the rule. It’s not always a good idea for a player to be overly muscular because this can make them less flexible and mobile, which will affect how well they play on the pitch.



However, some players managed to work a 90-minute shift every week while still maintaining their status as absolute units. One such person who was incredibly talented on the pitch but also quite jacked for a football player is Zlatan Ibrahimovic.


Some athletes experience significant changes after hanging up their boots, but others view retirement as a time to unwind. Those that put on weight have a lot of free time that they could have used to train for their teams. And because pictures of them flaunting their new bodies are all over the internet, people occasionally wonder if they could still perform well on the pitch.



And it’s not only about building muscle; some former athletes have had remarkable weight loss after making dietary changes and kicking unhealthy habits. These nine football players experienced significant changes after quitting the game.


Ze Roberto went into retirement in November 2017.




The former Brazil international, who is currently in his 50s, made a shocking revelation in 2022. At 48, he thought he could still have played for Manchester City, who were the English champions at the time. The former Bayern Munich player did play until he was an incredible 43 years old, so the remark is not exactly as ridiculous as it seems.

And in his current condition, it’s easy to see the Brazilian still tearing up a football field’s turf. In the years that he has had to himself, Ze Roberto has maintained excellent physical condition. The Brazilian told Sky Sports in 2022 how crucial it is for him to lead an active lifestyle, and his Instagram profile is filled with pictures of him looking completely toned.

“I can leave a wonderful legacy for the upcoming generation of sportsmen and society by leading a clean, healthy life. For me, that is really crucial.

https://www.instagram.com/zeroberto/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=07110e72-945b-40ba-ae4a-bd9db566f139

Fernando Torres

Retired: August 2019

One athlete who would have had trouble playing with the body he had worked so hard to build after retirement is Fernando Torres. The Spaniard was full of energy and speed, and he made good use of his slender frame, especially at Liverpool. He had a terrific physical presence and was always strong, but not to the extent of today.

When pictures of the Spaniard appeared for an AW8 promotion, football fans went crazy because the former Chelsea player seemed enormous in comparison to his previous self. He had been working hard in the gym to keep himself occupied, as evidenced by the fact that he was nearly unrecognisable at first glance. Premier League defenders are fortunate that he is no longer playing because he has added a significant amount of muscle bulk to his upper torso. As he manages Atletico Madrid’s B-team and balances his bodybuilding, he appears to be uncharacteristically pushing a few center-backs aside.

Antonio Valencia

Retired: May 2021

Antonio Valencia, a former winger and defender for Manchester United, is another man who has been carrying heavy loads ever since he quit sport. The Ecuadorian, who was once a dynamic winger, shown the ability to change his style of play by spending the latter years of his career as a right-back.

Valencia was a committed professional who won numerous Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford, and his commitment to his training regimen hasn’t diminished. Despite being a strong player during his career, he has undoubtedly gained even more muscle since retiring in 2021. He has gained a tonne of muscle and is looking incredibly toned in the three years that have passed. He uses his Instagram account to keep people informed about his fitness progress.

https://www.instagram.com/antoniovalencia2525/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ca5fd2a5-d073-4592-9487-aa1d96a720df

Arsene Wenger

Retired: July 1981

Taking a step back from former players, Arsene Wenger, one of the best managers in Premier League history, has improved his game since departing the Emirates in 2018. The legendary manager, who led the North London team until his late 60s, later astounded supporters with his amazing physical condition in his 70s.

With his well-documented revolution of the English game, it was always clear that he took good care of himself during his time as manager. Ian Wright, according to The Express, went on public in 2021 about how much he detested dieting and placed a lot more emphasis on his players’ diets and habits to ensure they were in optimal physical condition.

“We were only allowed to eat and drink water—no salt or anything else—as if the chicken had just been boiled and looked completely incorrect.

“It was all about the fuel. We were unable to have anything, including tea.

Wenger’s use of this in his own life makes sense, then. In addition to looking like he was ripped in a vacation photo, he had gained muscle to make up for his thin build. The Frenchman seems to have been able to work harder in his spare time since he was released from the demanding routine of managing a football team. The Frenchman obviously finds time to maintain a rigorous workout routine despite his continued responsibilities as FIFA’s Head of Global Football Development.

Neil Ruddock

Retired: January 2003

‘Razor’ Ruddock has since claimed that the gastric sleeve surgery he had saved his life. Over the years, his physique had suffered from battles with booze and overeating, but the 56-year-old has completely changed his ways. He shared his experience with his followers on Twitter, claiming to have shed an amazing 93 pounds!

The former Liverpool defender’s inspirational story demonstrates that there is always time to make great changes, and he looks fantastic in the photos he posted back in March 2023. Ruddock said he was inspired by reality TV personality James Argent, who met him at a celebrity football game and shed 13 stone after undergoing the same procedure in March 2021.

Rio Ferdinand

Retired: July 2015

The former England captain’s height and stature made him an imposing presence on the pitch at all times, but his early playing days in particular allowed him to keep his pace and movement with a slimmer build. However, the possibility of playing Rio Ferdinand now would worry Premier League strikers much more.

Ferdinand, one of the best centre backs ever, got really ripped after he started boxing after retiring and posted pictures of himself working out on social media. He looked like a complete unit. However, after the British Boxing Board of Control denied his application in 2018, he was forced to abandon his dream of a future in the sport. You have to feel sorry for him because he worked so hard to get into that amazing form.

Clarence Seedorf

Retired: January 2014

The former England captain’s height and stature made him an imposing presence on the pitch at all times, but his early playing days in particular allowed him to keep his pace and movement with a slimmer build. However, the possibility of playing Rio Ferdinand now would worry Premier League strikers much more.

Ferdinand, one of the best centre backs ever, got really ripped after he started boxing after retiring and posted pictures of himself working out on social media. He looked like a complete unit. However, after the British Boxing Board of Control denied his application in 2018, he was forced to abandon his dream of a future in the sport. You have to feel sorry for him because he worked so hard to get into that amazing form.

https://www.instagram.com/skorercom/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ecdd6f21-d2d3-4e60-8dc3-4d6565ae8337

Mesut Ozil

Retired: March 2023

Mesut Ozil, the former midfield guru for Arsenal, relied on his outstanding technical skill and quick feet to get out of trouble because he was never the biggest player. One of the best passers Premier League supporters have ever seen, he rarely outmuscles opponents.
In March 2022, the playmaker was called ‘physically incapable’ and removed from the team during his tenure at Fenerbahce after being substituted off at halftime against Konyaspor. But now that the German is working hard after giving up football in 2023, few would call him that. Alper Aksac, Ozil’s personal trainer, has posted videos of Ozil working out on Instagram in the months since he retired. He shows how he went from being skinny to having a six-pack and an incredible body.

https://www.instagram.com/alperaksac7/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=d26e787c-54d9-421e-b229-1544f3e94ec6

Tim Wiese

Retired: September 2014

Tim Wiese had a fantastic career in Germany, but his most famous period was from 2005 until 2012 when he played for Werder Bremen. The goalie, who made six appearances for the national team, was a superb shot-stopper due to his agility and thin physique.

However, considering his present build, he might find it difficult to do the same acrobatic stops. In pursuit of new experiences, Wiese made the decision to hang up his boots and seek a career in wrestling, joining the WWE. He made good use of the opportunity to develop muscle and prepare ready for his new position; according to the Daily Mail, he put on an additional 40 kg. Regretfully, the former Bundesliga player departed the organisation in 2017.

 



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