Pristine kits on all of the 22 players lining up for the big match. It’s part of football’s aesthetic appeal at that moment of high anticipation before the drama unfolds.
Just try not to look at anyone’s socks.
Over recent years, a noticeable and growing trend has been players taking to the field with their stockings torn at the back. Gareth Bale used to do it at Real Madrid; now, Jude Bellingham follows suit. In the Premier League, Bukayo Saka, Conor Gallagher and Kyle Walker all look as though their sock draw has been subjected to a rather frenetic moth attack.
Richard Keys, the beIN Sports anchor working out of Qatar, proclaimed “enough of this nonsense” as he posted an image of Gallagher with clearly visible sock holes. The former Sky Sports presenter, who was dismissed from that role in 2011 for sexist behaviour, questioned the level of professionalism of those who adopt the trend.
So, why do some players have holey socks? What’s the benefit? Who does it? The Sporting News answers these questions and more.
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Why do footballers cut holes in their socks?
Manchester City right-back Walker was something of trailblazer when it came to this curious piece of on-field fashion.
Unlike the couple of large slashes favoured by the likes of Bellingham and Gallagher, during the 2017/18 season, Walker began wearing socks with several small holes and under-socks, creating a sort of leopard effect.
Speaking in 2021, the England defender said: “The socks were actually too tight so it was causing pressure on my calves. [It was] just to release my calves — or release the tension.
“I just cut holes in them and all of a sudden I had a few alright games, and I was like, ‘Okay, I’m keeping this now!’.”
The widespread adoption of the phenomenon means it can’t just be down to the superstition that Walker alludes to. Most players who follow the same practice claim, like Walker, that there is a benefit to circulation around their calf muscles.
Indeed, it became common enough for former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho to craft a disapproving Instagram post.
Mourinho, who was in charge of Roma at the time, posted a mournful compilation of black and white pictures displaying torn socks with the caption: “Beautiful socks for the Beautiful Game… Approved by the football authorities.”
It remains to be seen whether the now-unemployed Mourinho takes his campaign any further with more time on his hands.
But for now, the trend of footballers cutting holes in their socks down the backs of their calves looks like it’s here to stay.
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Which footballers cut holes in their socks?
Although this is something that extends beyond the Premier League, spare a thought for the England kit team at Euro 2024 this summer. They might feel like they’re dressing Edward Scissorhands.
Walker, Saka, Gallagher and Bellingham are among those who have been seen flashing their calves through altered socks.
Bellingham has continued to do so at Real Madrid despite La Liga rules stating that players must not wear any kit that is torn and if such damage occurs that item must be replaced during a match.
Bale did likewise during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, making him a similar rebel from abroad.
Bellingham is yet to suffer the fate of former Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay, who was ordered to replace torn socks while playing for Valencia in 2018 because they did not conform to the sporting dress code.
El árbitro sí vio la media rota de Garay. #MovistarPartidazo pic.twitter.com/gIaimWxcjI
— Fútbol en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) November 26, 2017
Torn socks is not a uniquely British phenomenon. Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are among the global stars to have amended their kits in such a fashion.
