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Why Do Footballers Cut Holes In Their Socks?

Why Do Footballers Cut Holes In Their Socks?

Modern football is constantly evolving. In the last few years alone, key transitions have taken place in terms of the ownership structures that dictate the running of professional clubs, the uses of scouting and data by behind-the-scenes staff, and the tactical trends that are constantly developing and shifting within different leagues across the world. This consistent churn goes all the way down to the small-scale trends and habits that take hold amongst elite level players, which tend to end up trickling down to youth players and amateurs.

In this article, we’ll be focusing on the latter aspect of football's continual evolution, by honing in on an issue that has received plenty of attention from football media in the last year or so: the widespread phenomenon of professional players cutting holes in their socks before taking to the field of play. We’ll explore the development and reasoning behind the football holes in socks trend, which seems bizarre at surface level, and we’ll gauge the reaction to it amongst pundits and experts. We’ll also look at whether there’s any science behind this phenomenon, before examining how it reflects the wider significance of trends, fashions and fads in soccer. 

Football Holes In Socks: When Did It Start?

Anyone who regularly watches top-level football will have noticed lately that a number of professional players are choosing to cut holes in the back of their knee-length socks every game. Sometimes it will just be one big gaping hole, other times it will be lots of smaller holes dotted up the calf. There's no doubt that the prevalence of this trend has increased massively in the last few years, and it's confused many people. A lot fans are also unsure exactly when footballers started cutting holes in the backs of their socks.

It's thought that this was a trend that began in the men's game, although these days plenty of female players are also getting involved. According to The Sun, the first top player to be spotted with holes in the back of his socks was Kyle Walker, who donned cut-up socks during Manchester City's 2018 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Premier League rivals Liverpool. 

Back then, he was in a small minority, but these days the practice has been normalised. Despite official rules stating that players should not be allowed to play with ripped socks, shorts or shirt, a number of Premier League superstars have adopted the idea of cutting holes in the backs of their socks, and generally speaking the authorities have turned a blind eye. The real question is: why did footballers start doing this in the first place?

Why Do Footballers Cut Holes In Their Socks?

Football's 'holes in back of socks' phenomenon does have some logic behind it, although there are plenty of question marks over whether it is actually effective at all.

The most common reason given for cutting the holes is that modern football socks are super tight and stretchy, because they're generally made with up to 90% polyester (and around 10% cotton). These types of socks help keep in place the small slip-on shin pads worn by many players, but they can also be restrictive for some of those players.

The idea is that cutting holes in their socks can reduce the amount of pressure they feel on their calf muscles during play.

It's true that professional football players tend to have stronger, more bulging calf muscles than most people, so the issue of blood flow, circulation and breathability may be more of a concern for them than for the average amateur donning football socks. Regardless, this is essentially all about marginal gains. 

The stakes are so high at the top level of professional football — in terms of competition, reputation, finances and commercialism — that those in the game are prepared to make the tiniest of alterations to their behaviour in order to potentially increase their chances of performing well. Professional footballers believe that by cutting holes in their socks, they can give themselves that little extra piece of sharpness and freedom that might just allow them to help their team to victory. Pro players are ultra-competitive and desperate to be on the winning team at all times, so it's not a huge surprise that this trend has taken hold in the way it has.

Which Footballers Cut Holes In Their Socks?

A number of high-profile footballers have been spotted wearing cut-up socks, and the practice has now spread far beyond the elite level of the game. As well as in the English lower divisions, you'll also regularly see players cutting holes in their socks at amateur level, as players look to mimic their heroes with the hope that replicating their habits and behaviours might allow them to produce some magic on the pitch themselves.

Some of the biggest names to have been pictured donning ripped-up, old-looking socks include Kyle Walker, Conor Gallagher, Bukayo Saka, Gareth Bale, Neymar, and Jude Bellingham. The last name on that list, England and Real Madrid's star attacking midfielder, has probably received more attention from the media and the authorities than any other when it comes to the cutting of holes in socks. 

The Spanish publication AS reported that Bellingham "complains that current socks are not adapted to the physique and muscularity of footballers… they only suffer high pressures inside these socks, which are unsuitable for sports practice." However, they clarified that LaLiga regulations are "strict on this and establish certain dress codes that, in the case of socks, do not contemplate a player wearing torn ones." According to AS, "the management is aware of the medical chaos that could be caused by wearing immaculate socks and prefers to turn a blind eye to a garment that is more problematic than it seems."

Is This Phenomenon Backed Up By Science?

Some players attempt to avoid criticism by wearing same-coloured stockings underneath their socks and thereby hiding (at least slightly) the holes they've poked into their tight football socks. But others make no attempt to disguise their fashion statement. And pros like Bellingham have been clear that they believe their sock adaptations make a genuine difference to the way they feel and performs on the pitch. 

However, there actually isn't much science to back up players' claims about the efficacy of cutting holes in the backs of socks. According to Dr. Raj Brar of 3CB Performances (who spoke to Tifo about this issue), there isn't much of a medical basis to support this theory. "One way of medically reducing pressure on the calves is using high pressure compression socks between games as a recovery measure. That will increase circulation and reduce swelling to varying degrees based on the level of pressure of the sock," Brar said. He added: "Besides, footballers get more than enough activity through their calves to not worry about circulation and swelling pooling up."

The thing is, once a football fashion trend takes hold, it's very difficult to get rid of it. Football fans love to mimic their heroes, while at the top level of the game players will happily adopt new habits, behaviours or superstitions even if there is just a tiny chance that it will help them benefit from a slight marginal gain. It's understandable, given the high pressures of elite sport. But ultimately, cutting holes in your socks does not have any medical benefit when it comes to reducing cramp or tightness, helping with circulation and keeping your legs free and breathable during matches.

The Reaction To The Cut Socks Phenomenon

It's fair to say that the reaction to this trend amongst pundits, ex-players and managers has been a little over the top at times. Cutting holes in your football socks is technically breaking the rules, and as we've explored, there is very little medical evidence to suggest that there's anything to be gained by this. However, the reaction on social media and in more traditional media outlets has been overblown at times. 

Jose Mourinho, the decorated former manager of numerous famous clubs include Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United, has been one of the biggest names to come out in criticism of this trend. Last year, he posted several photos of cut-up socks on his Instagram, captioning the post: "Beautiful socks for the Beautiful Game… Approved by the football authorities", a subtle but intentional dig at the lack of repercussions for players conforming to this practice.

Former Sky Sports anchor Richard Keys went further, calling for the banning of the trend and posting on his blog: "Enough of this nonsense. There's no need for it. The Spanish have outlawed it (although Bellingham gets away with it). It's time we did." Meanwhile, debates on radio stations like Talksport have led many fans and pundits to call for action to be taken against this practice.

In reality, the impact made on the game by the cutting of holes in socks is minimal, and the football authorities in most domestic leagues appear to have decided that there are more important things for them to be worrying about. Many people would agree that this trend leads to scruffy appearances and the wasting of resources, and ultimately it's not backed up by any science. But there's also an understanding amongst many supporters that footballers are keen to do whatever they can to gain an edge on the pitch. And for that reason, it's likely this phenomenon is here to stay.

Want to find out about another practice some players are using to create marginal gains on the soccer field? Check out our interview with the world's first ball-striking coach Bartek Sylwestrzak for an insight into how dedicated ball striking practice can improve performance.