A particular type of football player appears to be almost made to survive on takeout, late-night stress, and adrenaline. That man was Steve Evans for the majority of his managerial career. He was, in many respects, the epitome of someone who lived solely for the game—loud, passionate, and constantly animated on the touchline. The character was almost entirely composed of the weight that had accumulated over the years. He also had a tendency to laugh it off, like many people who carry too much of it for too long. Eventually, he was unable to.
Evans had something he hadn’t had in years when he was fired by Rotherham United in March 2025: time. In that case, the majority of managers pick up the phone, contact their agent, and begin looking for a new position. Within days, Evans was getting calls from clubs. He rejected each of them. Rather, he took a seat with his family and made a choice that, in his own words, might have saved his life.
Everything seems to have changed after speaking with a cardiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital. Evans has publicly stated that he was concerned about himself, believing that a lifestyle centered around match days and management, coupled with stress and unhealthy eating habits, had silently caught up with him. He was given a plan by a doctor. He received a program from a fitness instructor. Although none of them truly believed he would stick with it, as Evans himself recalled with some amusement, his family gave him the conviction to begin.
He did persevere. In just six months, six and a half stones, or about 41 kilograms, were lost. When people hear this type of number, they are often interrupted in the middle of their sentences.
Though it might be difficult for most people to sustain at that volume, the routine he developed is surprisingly simple. We go for walks with the dogs first thing every morning. Next is the pool, where Evans can now swim 70 to 80 lengths, or about 2.5 kilometers, with ease. He rides a bike. He visits the sauna. Before he returns home for meticulously prepared meals centered around protein and fewer calories, the entire process takes about two and a half hours. Football managers no longer have to deal with late nights. He goes to bed early and stays away from the refrigerator and anything that used to tempt him to eat biscuits at midnight.
It’s important to remember that none of this occurred overnight. Evans has been open about how difficult it was at first to go ten lengths of a pool. Working with experts, he gradually built up and made adjustments as his body changed. Seeing someone who spent decades making quick tactical decisions spend six patient months rebuilding himself one length at a time seems almost counterintuitive.
When Evans discusses the motivation, it always comes back to his grandchildren. Four of them, young enough to sense the urgency and reality of the future. He has expressed a desire to be there when they are 25 or 30 years old. wishing for them to mature and start families of their own. It sounds like something that people say, but Evans says it with a specificity that indicates he has given it some serious thought, and a doctor would likely explain the alternative in fairly straightforward terms.
It must be acknowledged that there is also football. Evans doesn’t seem to be at all content with his retirement. He claims that nine promotions are an unlucky number. Ten is what he wants. The fitness drive was preparation rather than just a personal motivation. A man must be able to endure a whole season without his health becoming the focus of attention if he plans to be back in a dugout, on the training field, and under pressure.
It remains to be seen if the weight loss is sustained over time. Evans expressly admits that’s always the difficult part. The next challenge will be to maintain what he has lost, then develop the strength and conditioning necessary to truly meet the demands of upper management. For the first time in a long time, he appears to be truly prepared for what lies ahead.
It’s difficult to overlook something subtly important in all of this: a sixty-year-old man prioritizing his grandchildren over his career before gradually realizing that the two were never truly at odds. It only took him six months away from football to realize that.
FAQs
1. How much weight did Steve Evans lose?
He lost six and a half stone — approximately 41 kilograms — in six months.
2. What triggered Steve Evans to start his weight loss journey?
A cardiologist visit at Royal Papworth Hospital made him confront his declining health.
3. What does Steve Evans’ daily fitness routine involve?
Swimming 2.5km, cycling, sauna sessions, and two daily dog walks.
4. What motivated Steve Evans beyond his own health?
He wants to live long enough to see his four grandchildren grow up.
5. Does Steve Evans plan to return to football management?
Yes — he is targeting a tenth promotion and considers himself unfinished.
