http://www.4dfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/mancini.jpg

All facts and figures correct as of April ‘14

OF THE

SUPERSTITIONS

MOSTSTUPIDFOOTBALL

10

When the happiness of thousands of fans depends on your performance, you can understand a footballer’s choice to abandon all logic and resort to weird superstitions. Well, sort of...

http://citizen.co.za/wp-content/uploads/afp/2014/03/02/f72243f6b1b1af2cdb3f61eadf739564335f90cc.jpg?df3fd4

http://www.photosof.org/view/football_with_empty_green_field-other.html

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1002/530420892_ed2f4b782e.jpg

W H AT

W H O W H E N

V E R D I C T

Burying a clove of garlic under the centre circle on the pitch

Bit random, but it supposedly helped them win a trophy.

Real Madrid 1917

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

2/10

http://www.aapt.org/photodirectory/C-1st.jpg

W H AT

W H O W H E N

V E R D I C T

Slapping your goalkeeper’s stomach and spitting chewing gum out on the opponent’s side of the pitch

Is violence and vandalism really the answer?

Johan Cruyff, Holland 1960s

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

5/10

http://emilyanddrew.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/imagen-058.jpg

http://www.goalazo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pro-vercelli-vs-sudtirol-videos-2-0-apr-13-2014.jpg

W H AT

W H O W H E N

V E R D I C T

Throwing 26kg of salt onto the pitch before an important game

Where would you even get that amount of salt in the ‘80s, besides the sea?

Romeo Anconetani, Pisa 1980s

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

6/10

http://www.soccerx.ca/assets/images/product-main/adidas_tango%2012%20glider_z27831.jpg

W H AT

W H O W H E N

V E R D I C T

Deciding not to shave until your team is knocked out of the FA Cup

If you’re anything like Alan, you’ll look like a bald, bearded retiree. But they did get to the final, so…

Alan Cork, Sheffield 1992 - 93

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

3/10

http://www.davidreviews.com/images/1201/2012012202-PDF.jpg

W H AT

W H O W H E NV E R D I C T

Listening to Gloria Gaynor’s feminist anthem ‘I Will Survive’ in the dressing room

While girl power is indeed a force to be reckoned with, we’re not quite sure how it would influence a game of football...

French World Cup squad 1998

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

7/10

© BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-khglKf_E8MQ/UBbaqnN2ukI/AAAAAAAAHEE/4me-OYbYfpw/s1600/Michael_Phelps_American_Legend_Swimmer_United_States_Hd_Desktop_Wallpaper_citiesandteams.blogspot.com.jpg

http://jdegre.net/photo.php?id=37

W H AT

W H O W H E N

V E R D I C T

Swimming in a river full of hippos,

crocodiles and strong currents

The intention may have been to go in

and “cleanse the team of bad spirits”,

but not everyone came out

again.

Midlands Portland Cement, Zimbabwe

2009

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

10/10

www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/arts/knowledge-exchange/themes/dressandtextiles/lace/

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/870735/thumbs/o-DOMENECH-570.jpg?2

W H AT

W H O W H E N

V E R D I C T

Refusing to have a Scorpio on your national squad

They may be a bit intense, but Scorpios are also passionate, filled with desire and determined to succeed. Why wouldn’t you want one on your team?!

Raymond Domenench, France 2004-10

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

9/10

techcrunch.com/2008/10/07/nerdcore-street-fighting-mathematics-at-mit/

http://cartophilic-info-exch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/top-trumps-match-magazine-world_22.html

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MswJpFEHpTk/U1b0TNX7DUI/AAAAAAAAAGs/RlmYwzacz-U/sergio-goycochea-212-mundial-italia-90-figurita-panini-7748-MLA5278103379_102013-F.jpg

W H AT

W H O W H E N

V E R D I C T

Urinating on the pitch before every penalty shoot-out

It’s gross. And you might get papped.

Sergio Goycochea, Argentina 1990 onwards

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY 8/10

http://www.frankautoservice.com/

W H AT

W H O W H E NV E R D I C T

Driving to a petrol station to fill up your car even if you don’t need it

Bit of a waste of time, but doesn’t do any harm if you lose the match and want to make a quick get-away.

Pepe Reina, Spain Current

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

4/10

triblive.com/usworld/nation/3874178-74/fat-weight-studies#axzz2vweWyKoowww.martincuff.com

10http://atlanta-appliance-repair.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/o-MAN-WATCHING-TV-facebook.jpghttp://www.papermag.com/uploaded_images/gene-wilder-as-willy-wonka-1335876825_b.jpg

W H AT

W H OW H E N

V E R D I C T

Watching the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory before every game

“If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it...” What a film! How could it not make you feel invincible?!

Malvin Kamara, Hampton & Richmond Borough

Current

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

1/10

triblive.com/usworld/nation/3874178-74/fat-weight-studies#axzz2vweWyKoowww.martincuff.com

10http://img0.cfstatic.com/wallpapers/d5ca70617e44ca83f8af158c29a88a70_large.jpeg

W H AT

W H O W H E N

V E R D I C T

Saying “Curses cannot touch me because I wear my underwear inside out”

A little bit presumptuous there, Adrian.

Adrian Mutu, Romania Current

LEVEL OFSTUPIDITY

7/10

It’s all very well to rely on fate or superstition but, as we’ve seen, you may not come out alive. So, just to be safe...

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