Last out on the pitch, left boot before right, thou shalt not shave until the next defeat…Superstition has played a part in the psychological makeup of many sports people. Yet some examples of this mental conditioning in Soccer are more surprising than others.
From Astrology to Underwear
France team manager Raymond Domenench places his faith in the stars. Celestial ones. He refuses to have a Scorpio in his national squad and only tempers an equal distrust of Leos because lions Thierry Henry and William Gallas are integral to the line-up.
He was once quoted. “When I have a Leo in defence I’ve always got my gun ready as I know he’s going to want to show off at one moment or another and cost us.”
Sergio Goycochea, Goalkeeper for the Argentine national side in the World Cups of 1990 and 1994, had the pleasant habit of urinating on he pitch prior to penalty shoot-outs.
“By the rules of the game,” he said “until a match finishes you cannot leave the field of play. And if you have any natural human urges, you have to go on the field. So that is what happened in the 1990 World Cup quarter final against Yugoslavia. I went and we won.
There was another shoot out in the semi final against Italy so I went again and we won again. It was my lucky charm and I went before every shoot out. I was very subtle, nobody complained.”
Adrian Mutu employed his own foolproof method of evading any curse placed upon him. He insisted curses could never touch him because he wore his underwear inside out.
Witchcraft and Soccer
Kashimawo Laloko, technical director of the Nigeria Football Association, said in April 2005 that he believes ‘juju’ (witchcraft) can influence a football match, believing it part of African custom and tradition.
Laloko was sent off before the 2000 African Cup of Nations quarter final against Senegal, punishment for removing what he believed to be a talisman placed near the Senegal goal. Laloko has no regrets over his actions, feeling he had no option but to remove an item that could influence the result of a vital game.
The Song Remains the Same
Carlos Bilardo managed the Argentine national side between 1983 and 1990. He was one who trusted in the power of music.
On each journey to a match the same tune was played, the coach driver ordered to never slow while the melody was playing but stop as the tempo slackened, regardless of the inconveniences of traffic lights.
It may seem extreme, but Argentina did win the World Cup in 1986 and were beaten finalists in 1990.
Lucky You
So the next time you watch your favourite team, making sure your route to the stadium is the same as always, minding the cracks in the pavement and smugly glad you have your ‘lucky’ socks on, be reassured that somewhere a player is carefully putting his underwear on inside out...
ReferencesThe Guardian
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