Footballers are becoming more and more athletic with each season that passes. Gone are the days of Matt Le Tissier popping out for some fish and chips.
Nowadays players have to do their best to make sure that their off the field activity is not affecting what they do on it.
Given that stats like distance covered and the amount of work a player is putting in can be measured, it is more important for players that want to stand out to make sure that they are fit enough.
Here we’re going to count down the 10 Footballers with the highest stamina, the proper workhorses who do not stop for love nor money….well maybe money.
These players have been picked from all over the world so only the fittest for this list…
10. Ramires
Remember him? Former Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Ramires.
Famed in England for his ability in the middle of the park to never stop running, the Joinville academy graduate moved to China in January 2016 joining Jiangsu Suning.
Ramires regularly spoke about the need for a good diet while playing football which alludes to the fact that he takes his fitness very seriously, which is apparent from the way he battles everything all over the pitch.
9. Shane Long
The Irish frontman is well known for his ability to keep running at defences and pressing defenders high up the pitch.
In an interview with FourFourTwo, the former West Brom striker gives his advice on the best way to build up stamina.
In his time with Reading, West Brom, Hull and Southampton he has picked up a reputation for consistently hassling defenders and finding space by always keeping defenders on their toes and bagging a ton of goals on the way.
8. N’Golo Kante
Work rate and fitness are the basis of N’golo Kante’s game. Add to that a brilliant attitude and a desire to always win every ball back for his team and you have a briliant tenacious midfielder. During the 2015/16 season he was the first player in Europe to manage 100 tackles which is no easy feat.
His stamina has been vital in providing the legs next to Danny Drinkwater to allow him to distribute the ball and pick out the passes he wants to, and to that we doff our hats to you, N’Golo.
7. Blaise Matuidi
Matuidi has been a mainstay in the PSG & France set-ups. And it’s easy to see why. With a brilliant work rate to go alongside his incredible fitness and recovery ability, Blaise Matuidi has firmly established himself as a top quality midfielder in Europe.
His ability to support his teams through his stamina allows him to let creative players into play, although saying that, Matuidi most certainly does has an eye for a pass too.
6. Mark Noble
West Ham’s unsung hero Mark Noble has been integral in West Ham’s push into Europe under Slaven Bilic. And the Irons fans were not happy about his lack of involvement with England set up, and it’s easy to see why.
The only England midfielder to have more interceptions than ‘Mr.West Ham United’ was Eric Dier who usually plays in a deeper role. Noble has the engine to push forward, too, and that extra help can be invaluable, hopefully next the next England manager will give him a look in!
5. James McCarthy
The combative Everton midfielder improves year on year. He entered the Premier League with Wigan and after a few years adapting to the league really began to turn some heads. After moving to Everton he has established himself as one of the top midfielders in the league. The saying ‘run for fun’ can really be applied here as McCarthy protects his team by covering all over the pitch and winning the ball back and starting attacks in good areas
4. Fernandinho
Since arriving from Ukraine, Fernandinho has bought some calm to Man City. His engine allows him to free up creative players like Yaya Toure, and although some people may not see what he brings to the team, he is absolutely integral to the way Man City operate.
Since he joined Man City he has also pushed his way into the Brazil set up and has established himself as a first team player, what a player!
3. Dani Alves
How do you define Dani Alves? You’d like to say he’s a right back but plays more like a right winger. He has the stamina to get up and down the wing and not only be solid and the back but also offers and option going forward. He has also been important for his counrty, too and his absence for the fateful 1-7 thrashing at the hands of Germany on home soil at the 2014 World Cup proves how important he is at the back!
After a number of years at Barca and winning just about everything there is to win at club level he now moves to Turin to take a different step in his career.
2. James Milner
James Milner has energy and enthusiasm, and buckets of it. Milner is someone who takes his football very seriously so he doesn’t do things like eat takeaway food which is high in fat.
And this attitude translates on the pitch, his never say die attitude optimises his game and allows him to cover as many miles as he does every time he gets on the pitch. Although his technique isn’t the greatest the Premier League has ever seen his work rate and ability to get up and down the pitch makes up for it.
1. Thomas Muller
Topping the list is emphatic goalscorer Thomas Muller. The German international has been prolific in front of goal at club and country without appearing to have an actual, fixed position.
This doesn’t stop the Bayern talisman from working his socks off, which is perhaps one of the reasons he doesn’t seem to fit into one position – he covers so many of them!
His positional sense is second to none and his stamina allows him to consistently make runs into the box, here’s to you Thomas. Keep doing your thing!
