Personal trainers? They used to be a joke
THERE is quite simply no footballer with a better physique than Cristiano Ronaldo. People say the Portugal star is a freak of nature but he has dedicated so much time to becoming the perfect athlete.
At 6ft 1in, his frame gives him natural strength — when he was just 19, I experienced first hand just how difficult he was to get off the ball — and he has spent years diligently working to improve his pace and power.
It is a far cry from days gone by when players would spend their time off at the betting shop or playing snooker. With some players, you would only start seeing them in the gym around March and April when they wanted to work on their bodies for the summer holidays!
Igor Biscan was the first player I can remember paying for his own personal fitness coach. He arrived at Liverpool in 2000 and instead of going home after training, he would head to the gym and work on his physique and his upper body.
Biscan was a very good athlete but by no means one of the most gifted players at Anfield at the time and some of the lads used to joke that he should have focused more on improving his passing.
I could see the merits in what he was doing, however, and even then thought he was ahead of his time. These days it is the norm for players to have personal trainers, while many have gyms at their homes so they can work on their fitness after training.
You only have to look at Ronaldo to see the benefits. He has such core strength, which has helped him remain injury-free.
He has had the odd hamstring problem but I cannot remember him having major surgery or spending a significant spell on the sidelines. I’d also love to know the secret of how he has managed to keep such quick feet as there is a danger that too much gym work can leave you muscle-bound.
There is also an element of vanity with Ronaldo. He must hold the world record for how quickly he whips his shirt off and there is never a hair on his body which emphasises his rippling muscles. You can’t imagine Lionel Messi spends as much time on his body!
Yet there is no question that all this work has helped Ronaldo keep in peak condition and become one of the best players in the world.