Terry, Ince, Toure, Given, Lineker and the 10 most superstitious footballers!
1) Malvin Kamara
While playing for Huddersfield in 2009 the current Stafford Rangers midfielder explained that he likes to watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: "I have to watch it before every game. It gets me in the right mood. It's been my favourite film since I was little - it calms my nerves and gives me luck.”
2) Gary Lineker
Spurs legend Gary Lineker has admitted to a host of superstitious behaviour. He would never shoot at goal during warm-ups for fear of scoring and using up his good stuff before the game. If he hadn't hit the back of the net by half-time he'd change his shirt and if he went on an extended barren run he'd go for a haircut.
3) John Terry
Similar to the German great Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who liked the left-hand window seat in the fourth row of the Bayern Munich bus, Chelsea captain Terry has admitted to listening to the same CD in his car, parking in the same spot at the club's training ground and sitting in the same seat on the bus. He even confessed to wearing the same shin pads for 10 years until losing them in 2005 after a match against Barcelona. “Those shin-pads had got me to where I was in the game,” he said.
4) Kolo Toure
While at Arsenal the defender picked up a booking during a Champions League match with Roma in February 2009 because he wanted to be the last player out onto the pitch. As the teams headed out for the second half in the Gunners' 1-0 win Toure waited for team-mate William Gallas – who was having treatment – to appear. When he finally emerged he entered the field without permission resulting in a yellow card.
5) Sergio Goycochea
He put his penalty saving ways down to his urge for urinating on the pitch. During the 1990 World Cup the Argentine 'keeper answered nature's call before a shoot-out against Yugoslavia and then against Italy. “It was my lucky charm and I went before every shoot out,” he said.
6) Neil Warnock
Avram Grant isn't the only boss who has found luck in items of clothing this term. The current QPR manager didn't expect his team to reach the freezing cold conditions the country saw in December unbeaten and as a result of his side's success was stuck wearing shorts on the touchline. “I hope my lads keep me shivering on the touchline right through to the spring,” they lost to Watford shortly after saying this.
7) Shay Given
The Man City shot stopper places a vial of Holy Water in the back of his goal whenever he plays and it only comes from Lourdes, the holiest place you're ever likely to find. “I carry it in my bag and it goes everywhere with me” he claimed in 2002.
8) Laurent Blanc
It could almost be said that the former France and Man United centre back sealed his country's 1998 World Cup triumph with a kiss. Before each match he planted one on goalie Fabian Barthez's bald head, even before the final where he was suspended.
9) Paul Ince
The self proclaimed Guv'nor always made sure he was the last of his team-mates onto the pitch and the last to put his shirt on in a career that took him to Man United, Inter Milan and Liverpool. Maybe should have taken it into management with him too...
10) Alan Rough
An unpredictable and somewhat strange fellow yet top stopper, the 53-capped former Scotland No.1 wouldn't shave before a game, carried an old tennis ball as well as a thistle-shaped keyring onto the pitch and would always use the No.13 peg in the dressing room. In addition he would wear an old No. 11 shirt from his young winger days under his strip and blow his nose as often as possible during a match. It must have brought some luck – in each of his Scotland appearances at Wembley in the British International Championships, he lost none.