Andre Schurrle Joins Last Soul Ultra Endurance Race
The former Chelsea and Germany forward, now retired from professional football, is taking on a backyard ultra challenge.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Soccer
Andre Schurrle, who won the Premier League with Chelsea and the World Cup with Germany, is competing in the Last Soul Ultra backyard ultra endurance event. The race requires participants to run a 6.7km circuit every hour until only one remains.
Why it matters
Schurrle retired from professional football at age 29, and his shift to extreme endurance challenges reflects a broader pattern of former athletes pursuing demanding personal feats after leaving the sport. The event highlights how backyard ultras test stamina and persistence over extended periods rather than speed.
Each backyard ultra lap covers 6.7km (4.71 miles) and must be completed on the hour, every hour, with missed laps recorded as DNF. The source does not report Schurrle's lap count or final placement.
The players
Andre Schurrle
A former German international who won the World Cup with Germany and the Premier League with Chelsea before retiring from professional football at age 29.
The details
Schurrle is competing in the Last Soul Ultra, a backyard ultra in which participants run a 6.7km circuit each hour until one person remains. He also completed the Wim Hof method challenge and climbed the Sniezka Mountains, Czechia's highest point, in 2023, reportedly topless.
Timeline
Schurrle completed the Wim Hof method challenge and the Sniezka climb in 2023.
Schurrle turned 36 on November 6, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Schurrle's post-retirement challenges follow a path several former players have taken, shifting from elite team competition to individual endurance tests. His Sniezka climb and Wim Hof completion in 2023 preceded this backyard ultra, which tests stamina over many hours rather than speed.
The event is a backyard ultra, so the only fixed structure is the hourly 6.7km lap, with missed laps recorded as DNF. Readers following Schurrle's career can track his progress through the race but should note that the source does not report his current status.
The takeaway
Schurrle's shift from World Cup-winning footballer to backyard ultra competitor shows how athletes can redefine their physical goals after leaving elite sport. Endurance events like this one reward consistency over raw speed.
Further reading
For more on former players and their careers, explore our Soccer coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Star.
