{"id":1087131,"date":"2020-12-15T17:00:06","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T17:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1087131"},"modified":"2020-12-15T17:03:08","modified_gmt":"2020-12-15T17:03:08","slug":"retired-footballers-fitter-seedorf-beckham","status":"publish","type":"cult-corner","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/cult-corner\/retired-footballers-fitter-seedorf-beckham\/","title":{"rendered":"Beckham, Seedorf & other retired footballers who are definitely still fitter than you"},"content":{"rendered":"

Retiring from professional football can mean one of two things for players.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some maintain a level of fitness which allows them to stay in top physical shape, whilst others simply do not.<\/p>\n

Of course, there’s the excuse that not having to train on a daily basis is a reason for failing to maintain the shape they were in during their playing days. However, there are some that give the impression they have retired too early.<\/p>\n

Over the past decade or so, football fans across the globe have had to say goodbye to a number of players who decided it was time to hang up their boots and focus their attentions on a new career, thus paving the way for the next generation.<\/p>\n

Coaching and or punditry is the most popular choice among many ex-pros after calling it a day. Some don’t permanently stay away from the action completely as you’ll often see many feature in charity games which they are usually the best player and sail through 90 minutes as if they were back playing the professional game.<\/p>\n

With that said, here are 13 retired players who are definitely still fitter than you.<\/p>\n

1. Clarence Seedorf<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 37
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 44
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Manager (most recently Cameroon)<\/p>\n

Let’s be honest, there’s no way Seedorf couldn’t make this list. Not only does the former Netherlands<\/span> international look fitter than most fans, but Seedorf could also still give some current professionals a run for their money.<\/p>\n

2. Pep Guardiola<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 35
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 49
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Manchester City<\/span> manager<\/p>\n

There is no denying that the Spaniard has been one of the best managers around since ending his playing days, but he still looks like he could dictate the tempo at the base of Manchester City’s<\/span> midfield.<\/p>\n

3. Carles Puyol<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 36
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 42
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> La Liga and UEFA ambassador<\/p>\n

Any team in need of a leader in central defence could do a lot worse than attempting to convince the former Barcelona and Spain<\/span> defender to come out of retirement.<\/p>\n

4. Luis Enrique<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 34
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 50
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Spain<\/span> manager<\/p>\n

The Spain<\/span> boss showed signs that he’s not lost a step when he raced on to the pitch following that epic Barcelona Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 and continues to exude energy on the sideline overseeing La Furia Roja<\/span>.<\/p>\n

5. Thierry Henry<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 37
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 43
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Montreal Impact manager<\/p>\n

It’s no surprise that Henry looks like he’s still able to lead the line after a coaching role with the Belgian national team<\/span>, having to keep up with the likes of Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku. Even during his brief spell as Monaco manager, and now with Montreal Impact, the Frenchman would have undoubtedly got involved with training and probably fancied himself to perform better on the pitch than some of his players.<\/p>\n

6. David Beckham<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 38
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 45
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Investor\/ Club owner<\/p>\n

The Manchester United<\/span> and England favourite got through a lot of work up and down the right-hand side at club and international level for many years. And it doesn’t seem like much has changed on that front, despite the work he had to put into getting Inter Miami off the ground.<\/p>\n

7. Edgar Davids<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 41
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 47
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Fashion label owner\/ pundit<\/p>\n

The Dutchman featured in a France<\/span> ’98 legends vs FIFA ’98 legends exhibition game in Paris a couple of years back and approached it like it was a Champions League final with his energetic display. His physical standards haven’t dipped since.<\/p>\n

8. Ze Roberto<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 43
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 46
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Budding bodybuilder, technical advisor to Palmeiras<\/p>\n

The Brazilian had a remarkably good run as a player, given that he played well into his forties before finally hanging up his boots in 2017. Somehow, he seems to have got even fitter during the early stages of his retirement, beefing up so much that he is almost unrecognisable from the midfielder who won silverware with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and the Brazil national team.<\/p>\n

We suspect a few favourable filters may be in use here, but we’ll let him off.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B-6566GnmG7\/<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And if you want to get fit like Ze Roberto, the Brazilian featured in a fitness video<\/a> for Bayern Munich while the Bundesliga was on a break last season.<\/p>\n

9. Robert Pires<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 42
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 47
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Coach\/Pundit<\/p>\n

Well, remarkably Pires only officially retired from the game in 2015 and he did train with the Arsenal<\/span> side on a regular basis so his high fitness levels aren’t much of a shock.<\/p>\n

10. Henrik Larsson<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 37
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 49
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Barcelona (assistant manager)<\/p>\n

Another that has kept in good shape since hanging up his boots, Larsson looks more than capable of causing defences problems despite closing in on 50.<\/p>\n

11. Rio Ferdinand<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:<\/strong> 36
\nCurrent age:<\/strong> 41
\nCurrent role:<\/strong> Pundit<\/p>\n

Just check out Ferdinand’s official Instagram page<\/a> to find out why he’s still in better shape than you.<\/p>\n

12. Jamie Carragher<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired:\u00a0<\/strong>35<\/p>\n

Current age:<\/strong> 42<\/p>\n

Current role:\u00a0<\/strong>Pundit<\/p>\n

He might only be a pundit these days, but Jamie Carragher still keeps himself looking sharp. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him chasing down a striker during his pitchside media duties… or Gary Neville during one of their regular ‘debates’.<\/p>\n

13. Cafu<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age retired: <\/strong>47<\/p>\n

Current age: <\/strong>50<\/p>\n

Current role:\u00a0<\/strong>Pundit<\/p>\n

Given he spent most of his career bombing up and down the right flank, it’s no surprise that Cafu has kept himself well in shape post-retirement, even partaking in the odd bit of beach football.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Retiring from professional football can mean one of two things for players. Some maintain a level of fitness which allows them to stay in top physical shape, whilst others simply do not. Of course, there’s the excuse that not having to train on a daily basis is a reason for failing to maintain the shape…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":355,"featured_media":1087159,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Retired footballers who are definitely still fitter than you: from Seedorf to Ze Roberto","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"While some ex-footballers relax on fitness after retiring, others opt to keep a tough regime going and could still do a job on the pitch.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1087131","cult-corner","type-cult-corner","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"\nRetired footballers who are definitely still fitter than you: from Seedorf to Ze Roberto<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"While some ex-footballers relax on fitness after retiring, others opt to keep a 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