Weird things footballers did to their shirts

This lovely 2002 Vieira Arsenal shirts just landed in our store and it reminded us how the Arsenal legend used to smother his kit with Vicks Vaporub before kick off.  

Some footballers have taken their kits and turned them into symbols of individuality, superstition, or necessity. From Patrick Vieira’s curious pre-match ritual with Vicks to Ivan Zamorano’s creative approach to squad numbers.   It was the 90s version of cutting holes in the back of your socks.

We asked our community of the weird things football did to their shirts and here are the best.

Patrick Vieira and His Vicks Arsenal Ritual

Patrick Vieira’s towering presence in Arsenal’s midfield was iconic, but his shirt had its own unique touch. Before every match, Vieira would smear Vicks VapoRub onto his chest under the Arsenal badge. He explained, “I don’t know if it’s iconic or not. You know when you’re on the field, sometimes you get a little bit tired, it helped you to breathe much better. I don’t know if it worked but it was good to wear it.” 

Browse our collection of authentic Vieira football shirts here.

Jim Leighton and His Vaseline Eyebrows

Scottish goalkeeper Jim Leighton had an unconventional approach to dealing with cold and wet weather: smearing Vaseline on his eyebrows. The Aberdeen and Scotland legend believed it helped keep rain and sweat out of his eyes. 

Robbie Fowler and the Nasal Band for Liverpool

Robbie Fowler’s prolific scoring for Liverpool was memorable, but so was his choice to wear a nasal strip during games. The striker believed it helped his breathing and endurance on the pitch. The sight of a Liverpool shirt paired with the nasal band became an unforgettable image of 90s football.

Browse our collection of authentic Robbie Fowler football shirts here.

Craig Bellamy and his custom Celtic collar cuts

Craig Bellamy’s fiery personality extended to his shirt customization. The Welsh forward was notorious for cutting the collars off his kits while playing for clubs like Celtic and Newcastle. “I hated anything that felt restrictive,” Bellamy once explained. 

Mikel Antonio’s collar creativity at West Ham

West Ham’s Mikel Antonio followed in Bellamy’s footsteps, opting to modify his collars in a more subtle way. Antonio’s reasoning was practical: “It’s all about comfort,” he explained. 

Ian Wright and the tucked-in collar

Ian Wright was always a trendsetter, both in his playing style and his appearance. While at Arsenal, Wright would tuck in the collars of his shirts, creating a unique, almost preppy look. Collectors of Arsenal shirts from the 90s often look for this signature touch, a hallmark of Wright’s charisma and flair.

Browse our collection of authentic Ian Wright football shirts here.

John Paintsil’s Sleeve Statement for Ghana

John Paintsil turned heads during the 2006 World Cup by wearing one long sleeve and one short sleeve on his Ghana shirt. The eccentric look wasn’t a fashion statement but rather a result of Paintsil’s superstition. “It brought me luck,” he revealed. Roma captain, Daniel De Rossi did the same.

Ivan Zamorano’s 1 + 8 for Inter Milan

When Ivan Zamorano couldn’t wear his beloved number 9 shirt at Inter Milan due to Ronaldo taking the number, he improvised with a creative solution: the number 18, with a small plus sign added between the digits. Zamorano explained, “I had to have my 9 somehow.” 

If you are looking for an authentic 90s shirt that you can cut the collar off or rub Vicks Vaporub into then browse our collection and picks up a classic below.