I t came as no surprise to the Knowledge that James Milner had spent the early months of his retirement training for – and then running in – the New York City Marathon. Yes, the bleep test-loving former Brighton, Liverpool and Manchester City player recorded an excellent time of 3hr 9min 4sec, an average of 7min 13sec per mile. Not bad for a 40-year-old whose physique is more like that of a wrestler than a whippet. “A few years ago, I feel like I could have definitely done sub-3:00,” he said, lamenting his late-career injuries for hindering him.

In 2012 we ran a column listing footballers’ fastest marathon times, with the former Leicester playmaker Muzzy Izzet leading the pack on 3hr 22min 36sec at the 2011 London Marathon.…