The 15 Weirdest Football Pre-Game Rituals
Nothing can beat the entertainment we see on the actual football pitch, but did you know that some of the biggest names in the game have weird and wacky pre-game rituals? From peeing on the pitch to stuffing football socks with basil, let’s take a look at the 15 weird and wonderful pre-game rituals from the wide world of football.
15) George Best
Playing football in the 1970s was a rather different affair to the modern game, with not as much emphasis on healthy eating and drinking. As such, it comes as no huge surprise that one of George Best’s pre-match routines involved a little indulgence. He once revealed in an interview that he ate an entire chocolate bar before each game in order to give him an energy boost on the pitch. These days, a banana or energy bar would probably do the trick, but it’s hard to argue with Best’s results!
Did it work? George Best managed to win two league titles with Manchester United, as well as a European Cup. He was also the top scorer in the 1967-68 season and won the Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement award in 2002 after scoring more than 150 goals for the Red Devils.
14) Gary Lineker
If you go to watch any match live, you will see the forwards warming up in front of the goal, taking shots and working on attacking moves for at least 10 minutes or so. However, Gary Lineker was never one to take part in such pre-match warm-ups. The English striker was too afraid of wasting good finishes on a mere warm-up that he skipped pre-match shooting drills entirely.
Did it work? Lineker definitely saved his best finishes for game time. He scored over 220 goals in 430 plus games throughout his career, winning the FA Cup with Tottenham in 1990/91 and the European Cup Winner’s Cup with Barcelona in 1988/89. Who knows how many he would have scored had he wasted those top finishes on the warm-up?!
13) Leighton Baines
This is a classic weird superstition. When getting ready for a game, the former Everton and England full-back would put his kit on and tie his boots in the dressing room. But when he walked out onto the pitch, he would untie his laces only to tie them up once more. Even Baines himself could not explain any logic behind the ritual, but it was something he did almost every single game.
Did it work? After moving from Wigan Athletic, Baines spent 13 seasons at the very top with his beloved Everton, making 420 appearances for the Toffees. He also played 30 times for his country and even netted a goal for the Three Lions. He appeared in the PFA Team of the Year for back-to-back seasons between 2011 and 2013. You can’t do all that with your laces untied, now can you?
12) Thibaut Courtois
When you talk about pre-match routines, Thibaut Courtois always springs to mind. That’s because the Real Madrid shot-stopper really does have a whole routine. It starts with entering the stadium at a set time, to the minute. He then texts his girlfriend just before he starts getting changed and asks her not to message him until full-time. Courtois then goes to the toilet and sends a selfie of himself on the throne to his four close friends. He puts his left sock and left shoe on first because he is left-handed. Then he wets the fingers of his gloves, walks out onto the pitch, kicks the goal post and punches the centre of the net. And… breathe!
Did it work? A La Liga title with Atletico Madrid, as well as a Copa del Rey and Europa League trophy. Two PL titles, an FA Cup, and a League Cup with Chelsea. A CL trophy, two La Liga titles, and a Copa del Rey with Real Madrid. I wouldn’t argue with anything Courtois is doing because it seems to work!
11) John Terry
Much like Courtois, John Terry had a series of things he would do during his many years at Chelsea. Always sitting in the same seat on the team bus. Using the same urinal for his pre-match pee. Playing the same Usher music in the background. Using the same shinpads for 10 years. Terry admitted that if a superstition led to a match win, it got added to the list.
Did it work? Mr Chelsea, it is fair to say that John Terry’s five PL titles, five FA Cups, three League cups, and two European trophies are proof enough that his pre-match routine was spot-on.
10) Rio Ferdinand
One of the stranger routines leading up to kick-off, Rio Ferdinand admitted in an interview that he would smash a bottle of water over his head, jump over the touchline, then sprint to the corner flag before he could start any game.
Did it work? Centre-backs are a strange breed, but this routine clearly got Rio pumped. He won six PL titles with Man United, as well as a CL and two League Cups. He was also in the PFA Team of the Year for six different seasons.
9) Neymar
One of the sweetest pre-match rituals on our list, Neymar always has a little chat and a prayer with his father before every match, which he believes brings him good luck.
Did it work? He may not have had much luck with injuries throughout his career, but Neymar cannot complain about his trophy haul. Two La Liga titles and a CL title with Barcelona, amongst other trophies, followed by five Ligue 1 titles at PSG. The only thing missing is the big one on the international stage…
8) Wayne Rooney
Although Rooney never had much of a pre-match ritual, he did once admit to eating the same breakfast in the build-up to most of his matches. What was that breakfast, you ask? A good old bowl of Coco Pops, of course.
Did it work? Seeing as the man scored over 300 career goals and was England’s all-time leading scorer for many years, I’m surprised the new generation wasn’t raised on a diet of chocolatey cereal!
7) Cesc Fabregas
Another wholesome entry, Cesc Fabregas once claimed that he is not a superstitious person but did have one pre-match routine. The Spanish midfield would kiss a ring gifted to him by his wife four times before storing it safely in his locker. He felt that the combination of the love from his wife and his lucky number (four) would bring him good fortune on the pitch.
Did it work? The man has a WC trophy! Of course, it worked! Not to mention his two PL titles, two FA Cups and La Liga title.
6) Kolo Toure
Toure was always determined to be the last player out on the pitch, even in 2009 when William Gallas was getting treatment at half-time. Toure actually missed the start of the second half due to his stubborn ritual.
Did it work? He had a lot of success throughout his career with Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Celtic, but that particular incident did get him into trouble.
5) Gary Neville
After a team talk from Sir Alex, Gary Neville would put the lid of the toilet seat down and read the match programme in silence for 15 minutes to get himself into the zone. Peaceful!
Did it work? Just the eight PL trophies, three FA Cups, three League Cups, and two CL trophies… so maybe?
4) Johan Cruyff
Not only did Johan Cruyff have the strange ritual of slapping his goalkeeper, Gert Bals, in the stomach before every match to bring the team luck, but he also used to spit a piece of chewing gum into the opponents’ half of the pitch.
Did it work? Renowned as one of the greatest players of all time, Cruyff won eight Eredivisie titles with Ajax, as well as a La Liga trophy with Barcelona. That’s worth a little stomach slap.
3) Adrian Mutu
Mutu was a character, to put it lightly. He was known to have the rather strange pre-match ritual of stuffing basil leaves into his socks before heading out onto the pitch. He would also wear his pants inside out to ward off witches.
Did it work? It’s hard to say if he had any problems with witches, but Mutu had an indifferent career. Even his two Serie A titles with Juventus have been revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal.
2) Barry Fry
In order to remove a supposed gypsy curse on Birmingham City in 1993, then-manager Barry Fry would pee in all four corners of the pitch before a game.
Did it work? Barry Fry was relegated in his first season, promoted in his second by winning the Division Two Championship, then sacked after three years.
1) Paul Gascoigne
Perhaps the strangest pre-match routine of all. Gazza once revealed that he slipped into a pre-match ritual of touching Les Ferdinand’s privates before England matches. After seeing the size of his teammate’s manhood one day, Gascoigne asked if he could have a hold. Ferdinand obliged and Gazza went on to play a blinder, hence why it became a regular thing.
Did it work? Some would argue that no, it did not. England were never quite able to get it over the line in major tournaments despite having a world-class team. In the semi-final against West Germany at Italia 90, Gazza picked up a yellow card that would rule him out of the final England never managed to reach.