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Winning in White Socks

The biggest dilemma I face at the start of writing this post today is whether to file this under the category of ‘football’ or ‘fashion’. Perhaps it deserves to sit in both categories and perhaps it might be the most interesting or uninspiring blog post you’ll read here depending on your fashion sense!

I’ve long been a believer in the ‘look good, play good’ mantra for players and coaches alike. And by that I mean teams presented in matching kit, coaches looking like coaches and Managers in tailored suits. I’m an old romantic in that sense.

There’s a lot to be said for a professional presentation. My earliest interest in all things ‘on-field’ football fashion came in the 80′s and remember specifically George Graham’s Arsenal who always travelled to games in club suits (a tradition sadly now dead under Arsene Wenger yet still alive at clubs like Manchester United). The enduring image of Niall Quinn celebrating the dramatic last-minute league title win at Anfield in 1989 in his club suit is etched into my memory (perhaps John Terry might even learn something from watching that clip!). There’s a touch of class about the club suit.

But it’s not just old romanticism. Modern day coaches like Mourinho, Villas-Boas & Guardiola all carry off the tailored suit look with extreme ease on match days yet manage to look like coaches on the training field. I like to see coaches dressed in club tracksuits/jackets and looking like ready for coaching activity. And that’s not just at the top level of the game. At all levels the subliminal messages sent out by coaches by what they wear can often be equally as important as what they say. Perception is important, especially amongst players yet to be won over by a coach. The importance of a professional image is often under estimated, even in grassroots football.

Everyone can portray a professional image in the game and it doesn’t require a tailored suit on the u8′s sideline for example to achieve it. Club tracksuits & jackets really add a professional image to the sideline, one that inspires players, gives positive messages to parents and in short, looks good.

Players are in the same boat. Matching training kit (no matter how ugly) is infinitely more appealing than a collection of Premier League & La Liga shirts chasing a ball at training with odd coloured socks. Again, the professional image is important and done properly adds real value to your club. If purchased sensibly, it can be quite cost-effective to achieve. One example of this is at a club I worked at we got a sponsor to provide squad numbered training kit that doubled as an alternative kit if ever needed. It worked a treat and meant that we looked professional as a team throughout the season and had a third kit to call on if ever the need arose.

I know anyone who knows me well in football circles, wouldn’t let me write a piece on football coaching and fashion without mentioning white socks. I have a bit of an obsession with them as well as a logical reasoning behind wanting teams I coach to wear them if at all possible. Firstly, it is heavily influenced by the Brazilian and Argentinian National teams of the 80s/90s who all achieved great success with white socks in their home kits. It is again a romantic notion from the time I fell in love with football but also one I believe has a practical use in the modern game. With coloured boots all the rage these days, the flash of a white sock makes passing to team mates that little bit easier. That might sound mad and perhaps a highly luminous yellow sock would work even better but white has a classy feel to it and if it’s been good enough for Pele & Maradona then that’s good enough for me. I always remember my U18 Gaynor Cup Women’s Squad rolling their eyes at our yellow shirts, green shorts and white socks when they were first introduced. Most of them had changed their tune though by the time we picked the cup up! Victory in every sense, football and fashion alike.

In closing my idealistic view on professional looking football stops at kit and management attire. I worked with other coaches and people in business who would extend their view into how a person should look (e.g. no long hair, clean-shaven etc). It’s not something I buy into personally. I like my football people to be individual but quite obviously part of the team. There’s certainly room in football for expression of individuality but it’s the unified look that adds a certain level of professionalism to the game.

Is there anyone out there who shares my views on this topic or is this the first and last time I’m entitled to discuss fashion!? How important is Perception and a professional look to you in coaching or as a player?

As always I’d love to hear your thoughts and don’t forget whenever you next step out on a training field to check that every colour is matching and that you’ve got the white socks on!

All the best

K.