It'd be easy for Alan Shearer to bask in the glory of still being the Premier League's record goalscorer, even 20 years after retiring, but that's not quite how he operates. Instead, the 54-year-old appreciates just how important movement is for his overall health and wellbeing.
Lingering issues with his ankles, knees and back – all carryovers from his playing career – mean Shearer can no longer lift heavy weights or run regularly. But that hasn't stopped him from training.
Instead, he relies on Speedflex, a form of high-intensity training that uses hydraulic resistance. The harder you push, the more resistance it provides, while also reducing impact on the joints.
'It's the only thing I've been able to do since I retired in 2006 that has given me no pain whatsoever because of my knees, my back and ankles after playing football for 20 years,' Shearer said.
The former England captain still trains several times a week and mixes in cycling whenever he can.
‘It’s either that or cycling, but that’s just a great full-body workout and I do it two or three days a week,’ he added.
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Why Alan Shearer Swapped Running for Speedflex
Like many former footballers, Shearer has spent years dealing with the cumulative effects of a professional career. Decades of sprinting, twisting, tackling and repetitive training sessions inevitably leave their mark, which is why many retired players are forced to rethink how they exercise.
For Shearer, staying fit is no longer about performance. The goal isn't to run faster, jump higher or get stronger than the competition. Instead, it's about maintaining strength, mobility and cardiovascular fitness without aggravating old injuries.
That's one reason Speedflex appealed to him. Unlike traditional weight training, the resistance is generated by the user, which reduces impact on vulnerable joints while still allowing for a challenging workout.
Despite the limitations imposed by his body, Shearer remains noticeably lean and athletic. It's proof that maintaining fitness in your fifties doesn't necessarily require punishing workouts – just consistency and a training method that works for you.
Why Exercise Became More Important After Retirement
Ironically, Shearer initially planned to do the exact opposite after hanging up his boots.
‘When I finished playing in 2006, I was determined that, because I'd trained every day for almost 20 years, I wasn't going to do anything,’ he told The Herts Advertiser. ‘After about two months, you realise that you've got to do something. You've got to keep fit.’
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Ryan is a Senior Writer at Men’s Health UK with a passion for storytelling, health and fitness. Having graduated from Cardiff University in 2020, and later obtaining his NCTJ qualification, Ryan started his career as a Trainee News Writer for sports titles Golf Monthly, Cycling Weekly and Rugby World before progressing to Staff Writer and subsequently Senior Writer with football magazine FourFourTwo.
During his two-and-a-half years there he wrote news stories for the website and features for the magazine, while he also interviewed names such as Les Ferdinand, Ally McCoist, Jamie Redknapp and Antonio Rudiger, among many others. His standout memory, though, came when getting the opportunity to speak to then-Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher as the club won League One in 2023.
Having grown up a keen footballer and playing for his boyhood side until the age of 16, Ryan got the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland national futsal team eight times, scoring three goals against England, Scotland and Gibraltar. Now past his peak, Ryan prefers to mix weightlifting with running – he achieved a marathon PB of 3:31:49 at Manchester in April 2025, but credits the heat for failing to get below the coveted 3:30 mark…
You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryan.dabbs or on X @ryandabbs_
