6 Nutrition Secrets From Premier League Chef Jonny Marsh

The private chef to soccer stars shares his tips for fueling elite performance and recovery

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:39pm

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An extreme close-up X-ray photograph showing the internal structure of a healthy meal with protein, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates, the ghostly glowing lines highlighting the nutritional density and synergistic components of the dish.An X-ray view of a nutritious, recovery-focused meal reveals the synergistic components that fuel elite athletic performance.Los Angeles Today

British chef Jonny Marsh, who has cooked for top Premier League soccer players for the past 8 years, shares 6 key nutrition principles he's learned from working with elite athletes. His tips cover consistency, personalization, enjoying food, recovery, avoiding fad diets, and taking advantage of the wealth of nutrition information now available.

Why it matters

Marsh's insights provide valuable guidance for anyone looking to improve their diet and nutrition, whether they are a professional athlete, weekend warrior, or just trying to eat healthier. His emphasis on finding what works best for the individual, focusing on recovery, and not getting caught up in fads offers a balanced, sustainable approach to fueling performance and wellbeing.

The details

Marsh has cooked for many top Premier League players, including Kevin De Bruyne and Marcus Rashford. He's also worked with lower-level teams, like Warley FC, to help improve their diets and on-field performance. Marsh's 6 key nutrition principles include: 1) Consistency and simplicity - start with proteins and simple meals you enjoy; 2) Personalize your fueling - there's no one-size-fits-all approach; 3) Eat for pleasure, not just macros - allow for some indulgences; 4) Focus on recovery with nutrient-dense foods; 5) Avoid getting caught up in fad diets; and 6) Take advantage of the wealth of nutrition information now available online and from experts.

  • Marsh has been a private chef to Premier League players for the past 8 years.
  • He recently collaborated with Specsavers to work with the Sunday league team Warley FC.

The players

Jonny Marsh

A British chef who has been a private chef to Premier League soccer players for the past 8 years, traveling the world and meal-prepping for stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Marcus Rashford.

Kevin De Bruyne

A Belgian national team player who prefers to eat three bowls of pasta the night before a game to feel heavy and strong.

İlkay Gündoğan

A German national team player who prefers to have rice, fish, and a little salad the night before a match to feel light.

Luke Shaw

A British player who, along with Kyle Walker, enjoyed eating red meat before games despite nutritionists' recommendations against it.

Kyle Walker

A British player who, along with Luke Shaw, enjoyed eating red meat before games despite nutritionists' recommendations against it.

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What they’re saying

“Some of them were on five or six KFCs a week. It was horrific.”

— Jonny Marsh, Chef

“Pies are traditional in soccer, so it wasn't about ramming it down their throats, but bringing them around to these new ingredients. They went from quite adamant that they would hate this food, to trying it and enjoying it. That's what good nutrition is about: finding what you enjoy and working with it.”

— Jonny Marsh, Chef

“It's interesting, but I realized that [fueling] is personal to each player. There's no one right answer when it comes to 'When should I eat to perform at my best?'”

— Jonny Marsh, Chef

What’s next

Marsh continues to work with elite soccer players, sharing his expertise on personalized nutrition and recovery strategies to help them perform at their best.

The takeaway

Marsh's nutrition advice emphasizes finding an approach that works for the individual, rather than following strict rules or fad diets. By focusing on consistency, simplicity, recovery, and enjoying food, he has helped top athletes fuel their performance and wellbeing, insights that can benefit anyone looking to improve their diet.