Graeme Souness reveals life-changing advice he gave Ronnie O’Sullivan that transformed snooker legend’s career
FOOTY LEGEND Graeme Souness has revealed some life-changing advice he gave Ronnie O’Sullivan that helped transform the snooker star’s career.
The Rocket claimed a 41st career ranking title when beating Judd Trump in the World Grand Prix final this week.
That came on the back of his Masters triumph at Ally Pally – a tournament that also saw a fiery press conference tirade against Ali Carter.
The 48-year-old O’Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, is showing no signs of slowing down after a lifetime of yo-yoing weight, addiction and mental struggles as well as struggling with plantar fasciitis.
The icon has previously discussed how his weight ballooned to 16st on vodka and takeaways as a troubled teen.
Now ex-Liverpool midfielder Souness has revealed how he issued O’Sullivan some advice over two decades ago after meeting the snooker ace that could have made all the difference.
Speaking on the White and Jordan show today, the talkSPORT co-host said: “Twenty odd years ago I met him in Vegas and he was with a group of guys who were obviously there to look at the sights and enjoy themselves as much as they could.
“I’d gone out for dinner with my wife and come back in and the boys were just going out.
“I sat and had a beer with Ronnie and I said to him, ‘what you’ve got to do is get yourself really fit. The sport you’re in, standing on your legs for hours, when you get physically tired you’ll lose your concentration and if you get yourself fit, when the going gets tough you’ll be ahead of the game’.
“He actually gave me a credit in the book he wrote soon after that.”
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Fellow co-host Jim White then joked that Souness had been key in O’Sullivan’s rise to legendary status, to which the Scot replied: “Yeah, but it’s common sense, isn’t it?”
O’Sullivan still has issues with his fitness and diet these days, as he revealed following his World Grand Prix triumph.
He said: “The start of the week, I was feeling a bit rough and then I bought myself an air fryer and a smoothie maker. I started eating a bit better.
“I don’t like eating junk food, it sort of puts me in a funny place. I started to feel better as the week went on.”
O’Sullivan, who will next be in action in March at the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, added: “I’ve got a lot of experience now, I’ve won a lot of tournaments and been around a while. I’ve learned a lot about the game and I’m just probably a better all-round player than I have ever been.”