10 pre-game rituals of footballers
Everyone of us would love a bit of luck watching our back won’t we? Be it our exams or job interviews or important meetings, each one of us has a superstition that we believe brings good luck to us in times when we need it the most.
Footballers, too, tend to have pre-game rituals they like to carry out before entering a game. The said ritual might be for different reasons, but it does give them a surge of hope knowing destiny could be on their side.
On that note, let’s have a look at 10 pre-game rituals that footballers love to follow.
10. Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas is known as one of the master orchestrators of his generations. His sublime passing skills have awed people for over a decade.
However, few are aware that he always kisses a ring given by his wife 4 times before he enters a game. He believes it brings him good luck and makes him plag well.
“I’m not superstitious at all but there is one thing that I started doing four years ago – it went well and I didn’t stop doing it.”
“I kiss this ring that my wife gave me four times – my lucky number – and then I leave it in my locker and I go out.”
He also does it 4 times because he believes 4 is his lucky number and also one that he has worn as a kit number throughout his career.
9. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney has set the MLS alight, showcasing his class by scoring goals with grace and in aplomb. Well, all those scorchers and screamers are just a result of a bowl of cereals he eats before a game.
Footballers usually have a meal of chicken or steak before a game but Wazza begs to differ.
“I tend to just have cereal before a game, probably a bowl of Coco Pops. The normal ones, not the Moons and Stars,” he once confirmed.
8. Neymar
Neymar may be a controversial figure and a filthy rich footballer, but the Brazilian knows well to remember the Almighty in times of sadness and happiness. The PSG ace always has a chat with his father and recites a prayer with him, expressing his gratitude for all that he has achieved throughout his career.
As a matter of fact, the Brazilian also posts a picture on social media before every game, owing to the close relationship with his fans. Guess prayers haven’t disappointed him, have they?
7. John Terry
John Terry is one of the most celebrated defenders of his age. But what’s hard to believe is all that brashness and will to defend hard comes from a bunch of superstitions he is very particular about.
Apparently, in his playing days, Terry used to sit on the same seat in the bus. Not just him, but all his former teammates followed this ritual with him.
Further, he also wore the same set of shin pads for a decade before he lost them. He also used to tape his socks exactly 3 times.
“I am very superstitious and, for me, if we win a game then I add it onto my next superstition,” he has confirmed in the past.6. Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois is already living his dream at Real Madrid at the moment. How surprised would you be to know that the performances that impressed and convinced Florentino Perez to buy him were a result of a weird bunch of rituals he follows before every game?
To start with, the Belgian enters the corridors of the stadium at a particular time. He then texts his girlfriend and asks her to not disturb before the game is over. Then, he sits on a potty, clicks a selfie and sends it to four of his friends in Belgium. He then wears his left sock and left shoe first because he is left-handed.
It doesn’t end here, folks! When he comes on the pitch, Courtois hits the posts with his boot and punches the middle of the net. All of this to get into a trance he says he can’t be distracted from!
5. Paul Gascoigne
The superstition business doesn’t get any weirder than this! We all know Paul Gascoigne for being the strong-headed personality that he was, a brilliant footballer nonetheless.
Gascoigne apparently thought that touching Les Ferdinand’s family jewels brought him good luck.
“He made mine look small, I went ‘Les, Les please, please let me have one f***ing hold of that thing’,” Gaza said once.
“So he let me have a hold of it. And I went outplayed a blinder and scored, right. I thought ‘f***ing brilliant’.”
“Every time we played for England, Les went ‘hurry up and get it over with Gazza’.”
Les Ferdinand has denied these claims, clearly out of shame! 4. Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker was a master at the art of scoring goals. Now a BBC presenter, he revealed the pre-match ritual he followed before every game.
The Englishman apparently never kicked a ball into a goal during warm-up sessions. He thought that he would waste a goal which could actually score in the game.
The least we can say is the superstition had positive results, didn’t it?
3. Leighton Baines
Leighton Baines is a left-back who possesses oodles of experience in the Premier League. He is also an immense fan-favourite at Everton.
The Englishman apparently has a time-wasting ritual. He ties his shoelaces in the dressing room first and when he gets out on the pitch, he unties and ties them yet again.
The funnier thing is, when asked about why he did so, Baines was actually clueless about it!2. Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez, regardless of his biting antiques, is still a lethal goalscorer and a fear to reckon for any team he plays against. He does appear brash sometimes, but the Uruguayan has never shied away from showing his soft side on the pitch.
Before every game, Suarez kisses a tattoo on his wrist, which bears the names of his two children. He also does that frequently when he scores a goal.
1. George Best
George Best was the darling of Old Trafford in his times with Manchester United. Often labelled as a once-in-a-generation talent, the Irishman mesmerised people like never before with his silky dribbling skills.
Off the pitch, Best was what we call the first modern football superstar, given his extravagant lifestyle.
Best had a very unusual pre-match ritual. He used to eat an entire chocolate bar before a game. He said that it gave him a feel of positivity and energy.
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