Every sport has its own set of superstitions and soccer, the world’s most popular sport, is no exception.
In fact, soccer players likely have more superstitions than athletes in any other sport.
There are countless examples worldwide, from pre-game rituals to in-game habits. Here are the top 10 soccer superstitions that are commonly seen worldwide.
Washroom Rituals
Washroom rituals play a significant role in the superstitions of soccer players globally. These routines, involving specific toilets or timing of visits—whether it’s before, during, or after matches—are believed to influence performance on the field.
For example, John Terry, a well-known former Chelsea player, is famous for his religious pre-match washroom habits. These rituals are seen as essential to maintaining focus and luck during the game.
Same Seats
In many soccer clubs worldwide, players believe that sitting in the same seats on a travel coach can bring good luck.
Suppose a team wins while using a particular seating arrangement. In that case, it’s common to repeat the same arrangement for future trips until the team experiences a loss, signaling that the luck has ended.
Playoff Beard
The concept of a “playoff beard” is widely recognized in soccer as a superstition. Players often grow beards during tournaments, believing they bring good luck throughout the competition.
Globally, this ritual is practiced across various leagues and teams. For example, Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy are known for this in the United States, while Sheffield United had a notable playoff beard superstition during their FA Cup run in 1993.
The belief behind the beard is that it helps maintain a winning streak, a superstition shared worldwide in soccer.
The Golden Egg
Bald players are often seen as good luck charms in soccer.
A common superstition involves rubbing the shaved head of a teammate for luck, a practice that has been around for a long time.
One famous example is when the French National team coach kissed the head of his teammate, Fabian Barthez, for good luck during the 1998 World Cup. This tradition remains strong in soccer superstition globally.
Smelly Socks
One of the most well-known soccer superstitions worldwide involves players refusing to wash or change their socks during a series of matches.
The belief is that the dirty socks carry a form of luck or good fortune.
This ritual has been around for decades, and many players still hold on to it, thinking that changing their socks could disrupt a winning streak or invite bad luck.
Last to Dress
Another common superstition among soccer players is being the last one to leave the locker room. Many believe this helps them mentally prepare and gives them an edge on the field.
A famous example is England’s Bobby Moore, who took this to an extreme level.
He refused to leave the locker room unless he was the last one to pull on his shorts before running onto the pitch, believing this small act significantly impacted his performance and luck during the match.
This shows how deeply ingrained these beliefs are in the global soccer community.
Never Mind the Knickers
Another widely practiced superstition in soccer is players not changing their undergarments during a string of matches.
Similar to the dirty socks tradition, this belief revolves around maintaining luck and avoiding anything that could “break the spell.”
Many players stick to the same pair of undergarments throughout a winning streak, convinced that switching them out might cause a shift in their fortunes. Let’s leave the rest to the imagination.
Same Old Soles
A long-standing superstition in global soccer involves players keeping the same boots for several matches, especially when they are performing well. The belief is that changing boots could disrupt their rhythm or luck on the field.
This ritual has been part of the game for as long as soccer has existed. Many players refuse to switch footwear until their good streak ends, trusting that their current boots hold the key to success.
Time for a Haircut
A common superstition in soccer concerns when players decide to cut or grow their hair. Some players believe they should wait until a specific event, like winning a match or achieving a personal goal, to cut their hair.
Others take the opposite approach and refuse to let their hair grow until a milestone is reached.
This belief has become a long-standing ritual in the game, with many players worldwide viewing their hair choices as linked to their performance and success on the field.
Don’t Waste Your Goals
A unique superstition, particularly among strikers, involves avoiding shooting on goal during the pre-match warm-up. Many players believe that scoring in warm-ups will take away their luck during the actual game.
A famous example is former Tottenham and England striker Gary Lineker, who was known for refusing to “waste his goals” in warm-up sessions, believing that saving them for the match would increase his chances of scoring when it really mattered.
This belief has been adopted by players globally, especially those in key scoring positions.
20 Funniest Soccer Superstitions of All Time
Superstitions are widespread in soccer. Many players, coaches, and even fans believe that certain rituals or actions can influence the outcome of a match. Below is a list of 20 of the funniest soccer superstitions practiced globally.
Real Madrid
After relocating to a new stadium in 1912, Real Madrid failed to win trophies for five years. In an attempt to break the curse, they buried a clove of garlic under the center of the pitch, winning the Copa del Rey shortly after.
Pepe Reina
While playing for Liverpool, Pepe Reina followed a strict ritual before games. This included eating cheese and ham toasties, drinking a glass of wine the night before a match, and making sure his car was always full of petrol on match day.
Vincent Tan
As the owner of Cardiff City, Vincent Tan held a unique belief. He preferred signing players with the number 8 in their date of birth, convinced that this would bring success to the team.
Giovanni Trapattoni
The Italian coach always brought holy water to matches provided by his sister, who was a nun. He believed the water brought his team luck.
Adrian Mutu
The Romanian striker believed that wearing his underpants inside out during matches would ensure his success on the field.
Roberto Mancini
Mancini refused to have salt passed to him directly at the dinner table, fearing it would bring bad luck. Instead, the salt pot had to be pushed across the table.
Romeo Anconetani
The president of Pisa, Anconetani, threw salt onto the pitch before every game. For more important matches, he would increase the amount of salt, believing it would enhance the team’s performance.
Kevin Keegan
Keegan had a ritual of staying bare-chested in the dressing room until every other player was fully dressed. He sometimes ran onto the pitch while still dressing.
Raymond Domenech
Former France national team coach Domenech allegedly consulted horoscopes before choosing his team lineup, basing selections on astrological signs.
Barry Fry
Fry, the former manager of Birmingham City, believed their stadium was cursed. He urinated on the corner flags to lift the curse, though the club’s fortunes didn’t improve until after his departure.
Winfried Schafer
The Cameroon coach during the 2002 African Cup of Nations was arrested for allegedly placing a voodoo charm on the pitch to bring his team good luck.
Tony Sylva
In the 2000 African Cup of Nations, the Senegalese goalkeeper was accused of using a witch doctor’s ointment on the goalposts to prevent conceding goals. He then went 448 minutes without letting in a goal.
Rene Higuita
The Atletico Nacional goalkeeper visited a fortune teller who advised his team to wear blue belts and underpants to improve their performance. They went on to win the Copa Libertadores after following this advice.
Malvin Kamara
Kamara, the former Wimbledon midfielder, watched “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” before every match, believing it helped him relax and perform better.
Iker Casillas
Casillas, former Real Madrid goalkeeper, had several rituals, including cutting the sleeves off his shirts and wearing his socks inside out.
When benched in 2012, he abandoned the sock habit and eventually returned as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo is known for his superstitious halftime ritual of changing his hairstyle, which he believes helps maintain his high level of performance.
Paolo Di Canio
Di Canio always put his left boot on first. He accidentally put his shorts on backward in one match but refused to change them. He scored twice, helping West Ham defeat Arsenal for the first time in 14 years.
Steven Gerrard
Before every home game, Gerrard touched the “This Is Anfield” sign. This ritual was common among many Liverpool players and was seen as a way to honor the club’s history.
Paul the Octopus
Paul, a psychic octopus, gained worldwide fame during the 2010 World Cup for accurately predicting match results by choosing between two food boxes marked with the competing teams’ flags.
Holly the Hamster
Middlesbrough’s improved league form in 2013/14 was linked to Holly the Hamster, a mascot brought in as a Christmas gift. The hamster was believed to bring good luck to the team.
Final Thoughts
Soccer superstitions highlight how deeply rituals are ingrained in the sport, influencing players, coaches, and fans worldwide.
From quirky habits to serious beliefs, these superstitions reflect the lengths soccer communities go to to gain a competitive edge.
These practices have become a unique part of the game’s global culture, whether on or off the field.
