Under the microscope

Former Premier League and France striker Louis Saha, 43, takes our health quiz

CAN YOU RUN UP STAIRS?

I CAN’T at the moment as I have injured a tendon behind my left knee playing football. But normally I do at least two gym sessions a week, some cardio and I play tennis twice a week.

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOU?

IN A way it saved my life, as it made me slow down. I was travelling a lot to meetings in Asia, the U.S. and the Caribbean. I was close to burning out, but lockdown made me reflect on my priorities and spend time with family.

GET YOUR FIVE A DAY?

NOT regularly enough, although my family try to force me to eat more.

EVER DIETED?

I’M FAR more careful about what I eat now I’m not playing professionally. I try to stick to two meals a day, sometimes just one. I’m 6ft 1in and when playing, weighed about 13.7st (87kg). Now I’m about 14.6st (93kg).

ANY VICES?

CROISSANTS. Because I was training so hard as a footballer [he retired in 2013], I could eat them all the time and probably had two a day every day — with strawberry jam.

ANY FAMILY AILMENTS?

MUM has asthma, which I had a bit.

WORST INJURY OR ILLNESS?

I’VE had hamstring, knee, ankle and calf injuries from playing football.

POP ANY PILLS?

DURING my football career, I took my fair share of painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

HAD ANYTHING REMOVED?

I HAVE twice had to have a tooth taken out after clashes with goalkeepers.

EVER HAVE PLASTIC SURGERY?

NO. IF you’re in entertainment, looking fake is allowed, but in sport it’s not.

TRIED ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES?

I’M A curious person so I’m open to the idea.

EVER BEEN DEPRESSED?

DUE to my Caribbean roots, I always see the positives. But in lockdown I realised I’d started not enjoying everyday things. Now I’ve reassessed.

HANGOVER CURE?

I HAVE never been drunk in my life.

WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT?

THINKING. I sleep with a notepad by my bed and only get five or six hours.

ANY PHOBIAS?

I’M CLAUSTROPHOBIC. I had a cycling accident two years ago. I had broken ribs and couldn’t breathe. I was put in a neck brace and had to wear a face mask. Then I had an MRI scan and felt claustrophobic. I now feel scared in confined spaces.

LIKE TO LIVE FOR EVER?

ABSOLUTELY not. Without a limited amount of time there is no motivation to do anything. Everyone would just think, ‘I’ll do it later’. n Louis is a project ambassador for the CLV Group FRi Report 2022. frireport.com