Steve Evans stuns fans after shedding six stone

Steve Evans has drawn widespread attention after revealing he has lost six stone, a transformation that prompted surprise among supporters and renewed discussion of a past online confrontation with former player and manager Joey Barton.

Evans, 62, whose managerial career has included spells at Leeds United, Gillingham, Stevenage and two separate stints at Rotherham United, has long enjoyed a cult following among fans. The former Millers boss was targeted on social media last summer by Barton after club photos showed Evans leading a training session; Barton posted on X calling him a "fat man" and asking whether someone "that out of shape" should lead a professional sports team. The exchange reopened a feud between the pair that dates back to Barton's own time in management.

The weight loss — six stone, roughly 84 pounds (about 38 kilograms) — was highlighted by supporters and media outlets on Saturday after images and comments about Evans's new appearance circulated online. Evans left Rotherham in May following his second spell in charge of the Yorkshire club.

During a long career in the Football League, Evans built a reputation for pragmatic, results-driven management and for outspoken behaviour on and off the touchline. Supporters have described him as a cult figure for his longevity and for promotions and cup runs achieved with several lower-league clubs. The recent images and reports of his weight loss reignited discussion over the public exchange with Barton and over commentary on the fitness and appearance of coaches in the modern game.

Barton’s original post on X criticised Evans after the club shared photos of a training session last summer, writing: "How can you demand athletic outputs from professional men with a body like a bin liner full of milk? Should you be sacked as the leader of a sports team for being that out of shape? #beingfatisnotgood." The remarks prompted responses from supporters and other figures across social media, reflecting divisions in public opinion about the line between personal attacks and legitimate debate over team leadership.

Evans has not announced any public role since his departure from Rotherham in May. The manager’s physical transformation adds to ongoing conversations in English football about fitness standards, social-media conduct by current and former professionals, and the scrutiny placed on managers' private lives. Fans and pundits have continued to comment on the images and exchanges online, underscoring how personal matters can become part of the wider narrative around clubs and their leadership.

Further details about Evans’s weight-loss program or future plans have not been released publicly.