Post: Former Premier League player Pew has become a food blogger after retirement, sharing healthy recipes and teaching cooking

September 29 The Daily Mail reported that former Premier League player Mark Pew changed his career to become a food blogger after retiring.

Twelve years ago, Pew made his mark at Bournemouth, when he and young coach Eddie Howe fought for the dream Premier League upgrade qualification. Now that he has retired, he has become a food blogger, but Pew admits that when he first started, his cooking skills were much worse than his football skills.

Pew said: "I can't even boil eggs, and when we reached the Championship, I tried to find ways to improve my performance. I took a nutrition course and learned a lot. It showed me food that powers the body, food that helps recover, superfoods, and so on. I started learning to cook, and I fell in love with it completely, and I developed a real passion for cooking. I read countless books and listen to podcasts. I was fascinated by nutrition and fitness. I now think I'm a bit like a health madman."

Pew now runs an account called "Gourmet Player," who has over 68,000 followers on Instagram and shares healthy recipes, most of which are cooked in an air fryer. From roasted chicken to roasted sweet potatoes, Pew’s simple recipes have proven to be a hit, and he has also visited soccer clubs across the UK to host workshops promoting a healthy lifestyle.

He told the Post: "I wanted to get that advantage, so I completed a 18-module diploma in nutrition, and I learned how to properly replenish my body and got fascinated by it."

"When I was 32 on the Queen's Park Rangers, I set up my Instagram account just because I wanted to encourage others to be healthier. People seemed to like this, and then it developed like that."

"I'm grateful that there are other things to focus on outside of football, which made it easier for me to later decide whether to continue my football career or pursue new hobbies."

Modern football has bid farewell to the indulgence of past times and instead adopting top sports science and nutrition, and the rich rewards provided by football also give stars plenty of motivation to ensure they are in the best shape. Some players have been competing all year round this past year, and such a tense schedule means that replenishing the body with the right food is crucial for a good recovery.

Pew added: "This is becoming more and more important now. A lot of athletes are starting to take it seriously, and in the past you could get away with it even if you eat the wrong thing. But, as you can see, especially in the Premier League, the game is very intense and the pace is very fast. And there are so many games you have to recover properly."