Robin van Persie spent more than two decades relying on his body at the very highest level of football. Now 43, the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker says his priorities have changed. These days, staying active isn’t about preparing for the next match – it’s about enjoying movement.

‘I have always enjoyed cycling. I’m Dutch, so cycling is part of our culture,’ Van Persie tells Men’s Health, after being announced as a Global Brand Ambassador for e-bike company Engwe.

‘Now, after football, staying active is still important to me, but I enjoy it in a different way. It’s no longer about performance. It’s about enjoying the journey, being outdoors and having the freedom to get wherever you want to go.’

Discipline Never Leaves You

While his training schedule looks very different now, Van Persie says one habit from his playing days has never disappeared.

‘I think the main thing I’ve kept is discipline,’ he says. ‘As a footballer, you learn very early that you have to look after your body, recover properly and be consistent.

‘Obviously my life is different now. I don’t have to prepare for a match every weekend, so there’s much less pressure around performance. But I still believe in the importance of moving, staying active and looking after yourself. Those habits stay with you forever.’

Why Cycling Is His Favourite Form of Exercise

Van Persie still enjoys a variety of sports, but cycling remains the activity he feels most connected to.

‘I still enjoy staying active. I’ve always enjoyed different sports, and cycling is something I’ve always had a special connection with,’ he says.

‘Now, what I probably enjoy most is the freedom it gives you. When you’re on a bike you’re outside, you can explore a little and you’re not constantly thinking about football or work. You’re simply enjoying the moment.’

One destination is already on his list.

‘I’m really looking forward to cycling in Girona. It’s a cyclist’s paradise.’

He’s Swapped Performance for Enjoyment

One of the biggest changes since retiring has been his relationship with exercise.

‘When you’re a professional footballer, almost everything you do physically has a purpose,’ he explains. ‘You train to perform, recover and prepare for the next match.

‘Now it’s different. I still want to stay healthy and in good shape, but I no longer have to measure everything by performance. I can also exercise simply because I enjoy it. I think that’s a really positive change. You rediscover the pleasure of staying active.’

His Advice for Staying Active

Van Persie’s advice for anyone struggling to find the time or motivation to exercise is refreshingly simple.

‘I would say don’t overcomplicate it. You don’t have to start by training for an hour every day. Just start moving.

‘Go for a walk, ride a bike or play a sport with your friends or family. Find something you genuinely enjoy, because then it won’t feel like a chore.

‘You don’t always need a huge goal, either. Sometimes it’s enough just to get outside and move for a while. Once you start, it’s much easier to keep going.’

Life After Football

One aspect of professional football he doesn’t miss is the physical toll it placed on his body.

‘What I probably miss least is the risk of injury and the pressure my body was under,’ he says.

‘Now I can enjoy an active lifestyle with much less physical pressure. These days I enjoy fishing, paddleboarding and cycling. They’re all activities I enjoy that also allow me to stay active while reducing the risk of injury.’

Joaquín Gasca is an expert in competitive sports, technology and motor sports. Some time ago he hung up his cleats to focus on paddle tennis and running… things of age, he complains. But it is also pointed to any bombing that has to do with putting your body to the limit, whether behind the wheel of an Aston Martin or going to the office on a scooter. He is very much a Atlético de Madrid player, so when players like Marcos Llorente or Álvaro Morata appeared on the cover of Men’s Health, he was there to write them. He has just run his first marathon for Runner’s World, and as happens in this universe, he is already looking for the next one to go below 3 hours. If you have to test any type of padel racket, vehicle or watch, it’s no problem. Even sneakers. Whatever is needed in sports equipment. Joaquín graduated in journalism from USP-CEU in 2013, but since 2009, when he joined the University’s newspaper, he has already started working as a 360 “journalist” in digital and paper. The next steps in his almost 15-year career were spent doing culture and sports in Shangay magazine, until he joined Hearst a week before the start of the pandemic in 2020. He is also a professor of social networks and new technologies at Universitas Senioribvs CEU and is part of Hearst’s Innovation HUB to research new trends.