A Premier League legend quit football aged just 29 to spend more time with his model wife – he’s instead been pushing his body to the limit
A Premier League icon admitted his “body was screaming” last month as he stumbled across the finish line of the Last Soul Ultra.
Andre Schurrle, who celebrated his birthday last week, was a tricky winger for Chelsea not too long ago – but these days he likes to push his body to its absolute extremes.
The German was taking part in a backyard ultra – a race that takes place across a 6.7km (4.71-mile) loop on the hour, every hour, until there is one person left standing. Everyone else is a DNF.
“I’m fascinated by how far you can go when your body is already screaming to stop,” he said after the event.
“This very moment – when only your head is making the decision – is the core of the Last Soul Ultra. There are certain things that I see as challenges.
“I want to benefit from these difficult moments in my life. Of course, that also involves extremes. But if I’m honest, I don’t feel like I’ve arrived in extreme sports.”
It’s not the first time Schurrle has tested his limits – back in 2023 he completed the Wim Hof method, which is regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges in the world.
The German and a group of fellow adventures climbed the Sniezka Mountains to reach the highest point in Czechia, which was 1,603km above sea level.
He said on Instagram: “The last minutes I couldn’t feel anything and I had to find something deep inside me to keep going.
“An experience I will never forget! -19 degrees, 100 km/h wind in our faces, heavy snow and rain. What I learned… my body and I are stronger than I thought if I put my mind and soul into it I can do it all.”
And he did it all topless.
This hadn’t been his goal when he walked away from the beautiful game, he had hoped to spend more time with his jaw-dropping model wife, Anna Schurrle.
“I want to let you know that I’m stepping away from playing professional football. On behalf of myself and my family I want to thank everybody who was a part of these phenomenal years.
“The support and love you shared with me was unbelievable and more I could have ever asked for. Now I’m ready and open for all the beautiful possibilities that are coming towards me.”