football superstitions

14/02/2023 By acomputer 398 Views

football superstitions

Like any activity where success depends, to a greater or lesser extent, on the whims of Lady Luck, football does not overlook superstitions. FIFA.com brings you some striking cases.

The Argentinian Carlos Bilardo is undoubtedly one of the most extreme cases. As Albiceleste coach, he used to arrive on the green rectangle with a statue of the Virgin. In another era, he forbade players present at gatherings to eat chicken, which he considered a bird of bad omen...

The technician also liked to associate his victories with details such as the wearing of this or that item of clothing, or the route taken to get to the stadium. Thus, he had for a time forced his players to travel to the stadium by taxi, considering that this means of transport was at the origin of the good start of his people in the event. The day of their entry into the running, the breakdown of the team bus had forced the management to adopt an alternative solution. However, don't ask him about superstitions, because his answer is implacable: "No, no, I don't believe in that kind of thing, me...".

While he was leading Estudiantes in the 2003 Opening Tournament, a young Brazilian came to wish him good luck at the start of a match. As the Pincha had won, Bilardo had not hesitated to ask the young woman to call him a few days before each day of the championship to send him positive vibes. Funny idea, isn't it? But less than the kissing session to which he had compelled all the staff when noting that a wedding was taking place in the Argentinian hotel at the FIFA World Cup Italy 1990. The 22 players then interrupted the festivities to greet the bride, supposed to bring good luck, at least in Bilardo's imagination. The next day, Argentina beat Brazil...

Numerology and Astrology

In this compartment, his compatriot Reinaldo "Mostaza" Merlo, midfielder for River Plate in the 1970s, follows him very closely. The coach who has just left the Rosario Central bench makes "the devil's horns" with his hand at each rival offensive. As he is also convinced that flowers bring bad luck, the opposing supporters do not hesitate to throw bouquets in the direction of his bench during the matches.

The superstition of Luis Aragonés is a bit more classic. The former Spain manager, who has a phobia of yellow, urged his captain, Raúl, to change his shirt during training. This mania almost triggered a diplomatic argument between his country and Germany when he refused the bouquet of yellow flowers handed to him by a hostess on his arrival in Dortmund, on the occasion of Germany 2006. And what about when he discovered Furia Roja's second shirt for UEFA EURO 2008? His aversion to yellow is so entrenched that he had to be convinced it was a mustard shade.

Mario Zagallo was obsessed with the number 13 because of his devotion to Saint Anthony, whose feast day is June 13. For this reason, he lives on a 13th floor, he got married on January 13 and he asked for the number 13 shirt everywhere he played. He is also convinced to have cured his stomach cancer thanks to the 13 visits he made to the saint in question! Zagallo, who has won 13 games as a coach at the FIFA World Cup, predicted Brazil's victory at Germany 2006. Two factors prompted him to do so: the event started on June 13 and the coach's first name, Carlos Alberto (Parreira), had 13 letters. But it was the number 12 that prevailed... In the 12th minute of the second half of the quarter-final, the French 12, Thierry Henry (12 letters), sealed the elimination of Brazil. To add to the annoyance, it was Roberto Carlos (13 letters) who failed to mark...