Former Premier League star addresses United Nations General Assembly in New York

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FT Desk

Former Sunderland and Middlesbrough star Duncan Watmore addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.

Watmore began his senior career with Altrincham before moving to Sunderland, where he made his Premier League debut in 2013. Though known for his pace and direct running, injuries impacted his career at the Stadium of Light.

After leaving Sunderland in 2020, Watmore joined Middlesbrough and later signed for Millwall. He subsequently moved to Sheffield Wednesday, continuing his career in the English professional leagues.

Most recently, he played for Rotherham but announced his retirement in February of 2026. Some would say that's early for a footballer to retire in the modern game but Watmore has always had other career aspirations as while at Sunderland he completed a first-class economics degree and a masters.

He is now head of elite performance at wellbeing firm PEAK4.

"Using the power of football, and sport more broadly, to help make the world a better place is something I've always been incredibly passionate about," said the former Man Utd youth player.

"To be able to speak about that on a stage like UNGA was a real privilege."

Watmore took to the stage on Global Health Futures Day to promote better public health through inspiration from elite athletes.

PEAK4 is a workplace wellbeing and performance company based in Manchester. It combines sports science, wearable technology, occupational health and expert coaching to help organisations improve employee health and performance.

The company was co-founded by former Man Utd assistant manager Mike Phelan who helped bring Watmore to the company.

"Duncan has already become a valued part of our journey," Phelan said.

"He brings a rare combination of elite sporting experience, intellectual curiosity and genuine passion for helping people perform at their best. His values align perfectly with ours, and we're excited to continue building a business that combines cutting-edge sports science with practical, human-centred wellbeing."

Watmore isn't the first footballer to talk to the UN General Assembly. Pele, David Beckham, Didier Drogba and Kaka have all spoken previously in ambassadorial roles, while George Weah took to the podium as President of Liberia.

Lionel Messi, Marta, Ronaldo, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan have also championed causes such as humanitarian issues, equal pay and development initiatives around UNGA summits.