Football isn’t just about aptitude and tactics; it’s also heavily riddled with superstitions and rituals that players feel give them the edge of luck. From grassroots footballers to fully-fledged international stars, these quirky practices seem indispensable to their pre-match routines.
In this post, we will be delving into some of the strangest rituals footballers swear by and just how these routines affect performance on the pitch.
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Key Takeaways
- Superstitions and rituals in football occur to help players during a match by making them feel more focused, confident, and in control.
- Examples of such common rituals include stepping onto the pitch with the right foot or wearing any sort of lucky clothing, which is believed to bring them good luck and give them mental preparation.
- Among the most known football rituals, there is such a long list as the head kiss by Fabien Barthez, spitting out gum by Johan Cruyff; examples are too many to show how diverse and personal this custom can be.
- Team rituals and consistency of routines can help build camaraderie, creating a sense of stability that eventually has to translate into performance on the ground.
The Psychology of Superstition in Sports
Superstitions in football are more than strange habits but serve a psychological purpose. For a long period of time, sports psychologists have researched how rituals help athletes gain focus, calm their nerves, and give them a feeling of control over uncertainty in competition.
Such rituals may well not affect the outcome of a match, yet they may put an individual player more in his right mental setting, thus performing better.
Why Do Footballers Believe in Rituals?
1. Engaging the Mind
Many footballers use rituals as a sort of on-switch for game mode. Repetition of certain actions helps these sportsmen get into the right frame of mind, clearing their minds and allowing them to focus as they take to the pitch.
2. Confidence Boost
Rituals can make players feel prepared or even lucky; thus, they provide confidence. A favorite shirt worn when playing the game, or a special action conducted before every match, can heighten their sense of security to tackle challenges in the pitch.
3. Dealing with Anxiety
Sport is unpredictable; therefore, it generates high levels of stress. Rituals provide a means by which footballers can manage their anxiety through channelling their nervous energy into predictable behaviors of which they are in control.
Common Rituals Among Footballers
1. Routine Rituals of Footballers Entering the Field with the Right Foot
One of the most general rituals in football is to step onto the pitch with the right foot forward. This simple action is enough to provide good luck. Many players, including Real Madrid’s Marcelo, observe this rule so strictly that when they have mistakenly led with their left foot, they will re-enter the field. [5][6]
2. Lucky Underwear and Clothing
Footballers have their special, ‘lucky‘ clothes. René Higuita, a former Colombian goalkeeper, would never play a game without his blue underpants, believing they brought him good luck. Another example could be Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, who has worn the same shin guards—given to him when he was a kid—throughout his professional career thus far convinced they are partly behind his success. [5]
3. Pre-Match Prayers and Religious Rituals
Religion also features highly in pre-match routines for many players. Players will cross themselves, say a prayer, or carry out other religious routines before taking to the pitch. The Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina always drove to a game, put petrol in his car, and then parked it in the same spot. This was part of his routine that he maintained helped him perform at his best. [1][2]
Weird and Kooky Rituals That Stand Out
1. Kissing Fabien Barthez’s Head
One of the most famous football rituals was that of French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and defender Laurent Blanc. It was at the 1998 World Cup, where Blanc would kiss Barthez’s bald head prior to every game—a weird tradition France kept on doing until it won the tournament. [4][5]
2. Johan Cruyff’s Chewing Gum Spit
One unusual pre-match ritual of Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff involved slapping the stomach of the goalkeeper and spitting out his chewing gum into the opposition half at any match. He believed such habits helped him keep focused and active during every game. [4][6]
3. Gary Lineker’s Shooting Superstition
The former England striker Gary Lineker had one eccentric view on shooting during warm-ups. He once famously quoted, “If I shoot during warm-ups, I feel as though I’m wasting my goals for the day.” Therefore, he never used to shoot in warm-ups, believing that would make him do better during the real game. [4]
The Role of Team Rituals
1. Group Dynamics and Collective Beliefs
Team Rituals Rituals are not always personal; sometimes entire teams have their own pre-match routines to strengthen bonding between the team members. Many squads go by taking team photos before the match for camaraderie and building a spirit of teamwork. In fact, the Welsh national team continued the tradition throughout the successful Euro 2016 campaign, believing it was lucky. [4]
2. The Importance of Consistency
It is also consistency that plays an important role in team rituals. Some teams keep the same seating on buses or planes during match day travel; they consider these patterns help maintain the momentum and make them successful. [4][6]
Final Thoughts
These rituals may look weird in football, but they give one a glimpse into the most crucial factor in sports psychology: belief. These apparently weird routines might not actually affect the player’s abilities or performance, but the psychological comfort felt cannot be denied. It could be stepping onto the pitch with the right foot or avoiding certain things prior to the match—these are ways that help footballers feel mentally strong and assured while facing competition.
After all, football is not all about brawn; it’s about mental strength and the belief that some actions, no matter how weird they may seem to be, make all the difference. These rituals hardly make scientific sense, but their inclusion is something that is part of the footballer’s routine that many dream not to go without.
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References
[1] https://realvalladolidacademy.com/en/5-typical-football-rituals-to-attract-good-luck/
[2] https://marcetfootball.com/en/how-rituals-help-footballers/
[3] https://upthearsenal.com/2017/01/24/superstitions-and-lucky-pants/
[4] https://onefootball.com/en/news/the-most-unusual-rituals-in-football-39606320
[5] https://www.dailysabah.com/life/2018/06/28/world-cup-superstitions-putting-a-spell-on-players
[6] https://www.goal.com/en/lists/footballs-famous-superstitions-terrys-toilet-trick-kissing-barthezs-head-weirdest-rituals/srzewxt4svm313jlvgsgwg561
[7] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/superstitions-weird-rituals-footballers-magic-remedy-andy-barton
[8] https://buysoccercardsonline.com/blogs/blog-news/inspiring-pre-game-soccer-rituals