Mesut Ozil and extra footballers who bulked up and have become hench after retiring

Maintaining the physique of a professional athlete looks gruelling but some football players enjoy it.

Especially those who continue to train and bulk up after their retirement. While many pile on the pounds through eating others have done so by pumping iron and cutting down the cardio.

Former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil is amongst several footballers who have taken it up a notch after hanging up their boots and undergone an astonishing transformation.

Mesut Ozil

Since retiring from the game after a stint with Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey Ozil – who turns 36 today – has been spending a lot of time in the gym.

The 36-year-old is often posts pictures and videos of himself lifting heavy weights on Instagram and he’s no longer the slight attacking midfielder fans will be used to.

The former Gunners star seems to be loving retired life after suffering a rapid decline due to recurrent injury problems. He’s not the only one either, with many former pros opting for bulked-up bods determined to keep themselves in perfect shape.

Fernando Torres

Torres is probably the best example of a former player who has been pumping the iron since he retired from football.

Many fans were shocked when the former Liverpool player revealed his chiselled frame a few years ago given how lean he used to be.

Now aged 40 Torres has recently taken up the position as manager of Atletico Madrid B having coached the under-19 side for three years.

Antonio Valencia

Valencia’s transformation is arguably an even greater shock.

In his days playing for Wigan Athletic and early on in his stint at Manchester United he was one of the quickest wingers around.

When he dropped back to play as a right-back he covered less ground and started to fill up but he’s become even more hench in his retirement.

Micah Richards

He’s known as ‘Big Meeks’ for a reason. Former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender Richards was incredibly fast as a player and only started to bulk up towards the end of his career.

The 36-year-old is a staple on television sets in the UK and America these days and is always posting pictures in the gym with some of his fellow pundits.