Superman

While most footballers are jetting off to the other side of the planet for a luxury holiday, Stephen Ireland was showing no signs of putting his feet up.
The Manchester City star revealed that the secret of his incredible performances last season were down to his refusal to take the summer
And while his team-mates are soaking up the sun, Ireland is at it again - as these exclusive Sportsmail pictures prove.
The Irish midfielder, wearing a T-shirt bearing the face of Madeleine McCann, was put through his paces by a personal trainer at the Evade Blackbelt School in Glossop, Derbyshire.

Ireland was forced to sprint up a down a set of 100 steps before heading to the gym to take part in a rigorous mixed martial arts session.
His obsession with fitness was triggered in the wake of his side's embarrassing 8-1 hammering at Middlesbrough on the final day of the 2007-08 season.Ireland vowed to change his ways after that game and has stuck to his word ever since.

'It was the last day of the season and we had lost 8-1 at Boro,’ he told Sportsmail in March. 'I didn’t get the team bus. I got my girlfriend Jessica to drive me home and I thought to myself: "This can’t carry on. My career and my reputation are not right."
Pain game: Ireland is pushed to the limits


'After that game we didn’t even get a b******ing. I was so depressed at seeing that people didn’t really care. People were laughing. It was the worst moment of all for me.

'I decided that wasn’t a route I was going down. I didn’t want to live my life travelling home from big defeats with a smile on my face.
He's g-loving it: Ireland hits out in the gym
'I just felt like I had to change something after everything that had happened. So, the next day I started training. I went up to the hills in Glossop with a martial arts expert, training from 7 to 11am. I dedicated my whole summer to working with this guy.

'I came back super fit and wanted to be No 1 in the team.’
 
Hate to say I told you so ;-)


06 Apr 2008 10:48 Complain | Prev | Next | Colin_Bell:Ireland

One of the most gifted natural passing midfielders WE have produced in years, Ireland has had a good season IMO and chipped in with some important goals along the way, it's obvious that Sven rates the lad highly, He was immense at the Swamp and will get better and better in his natural position once Sven fills the now problem right side, a job Ireland has been doing all season without moaning and just getting on with it - The lad is still learning his trade at this level and is going to be a big player for us.
 
I ran round that reservoir once it's fucking hard! Hats off to the guy for keeping it up because I can tell you i'll never be doing it again.
 
Only problem i have is that there is not 10 other players in that picture..... Johnson should be first in line...
 
Got to be one of the most commited, passionate, loving footballers we've had for the club
 
I tell you what....absolutely inspirational!

I hope this rubs off on a few of the others, which I'm sure it will as anything positive like that is infectious.

The wings are a bit iffy though imo. lol
 
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