It’s difficult to put into words how unstable and demanding professional football can be. With the pressure, the noise, and the overwhelming competitiveness of the constant games disassembling the hard work we put in with every training session, we need something to cling to. Something to hold close when everything else feels like it’s going out of shape. Something that allows us to leave the responsibility of results and performances to external and divine forces that make our backs feel lighter and the road less hostile in the evil wheel of football.
This is where our rituals come in.
We all know rituals are something that have been around forever. Many of them have spiritual meanings—an important part of being human. On the surface, these are meaningless acts that take on weight on a psychological level and anchor that moment to give us some sort of relief. There’s something small that we can easily do, and it’s going to help us in the near future, whatever our requirements are. And as ridiculous as they might be, they are REALLY important.
Let me start with my absolute favourite before I go on rambling. Juan Tallón, a Spanish author, wrote in his book Manual de fútbol (Football manual) that there was a defender by the name of Galíndez who played for Club Puebla FC in Mexico. Before every single match, he would take his underwear through a meticulous rollercoaster. Three days before the game, he’d make love with them on, preferably with his wife. Then, the morning after, he would take them to his mum’s house so she could clean them, apparently in a way only she knew. And on Sunday, he played with them, but wearing them the wrong way around. That, my friends, is real dedication to the game.
Some of the most iconic players in recent history have shared their rituals that sound ludicrous to someone who hasn’t ever had to order an element of their life like that, too. Rio Ferdinand spoke about whacking a bottle over his head and having to sprint to the corner flag, Leighton Baines had to untie his shoelaces after crossing the line to come onto the pitch then immediately retie them, Kolo Touré famously had to leave the dressing room last … once leaving Arsenal on the pitch with nine men against Roma in the Champions League as William Gallas was still on the treatment table.
And, well, I know what you’re thinking. Do I have one? Yes, I do.
The right sock, then the left one. The right shin pad, then the left one. The right boot, then the left one. Oh, and the right foot steps first on the pitch, then the left one. Easy, right?
But it hasn’t always been this way. During my teenage years, I had so many rituals and bizarre habits that I would bore you before you got to the next paragraph.
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