MOST footballers are renowned for having strict diets geared towards getting them in the best physical shape possible.
With the fixture list as crammed as it has ever been and the game played at a breathtaking pace, never has fitness been so important in the beautiful game.
GettyModern football stars have to show great discipline to become incredible athletes[/caption]
Players are being pushed to limits never seen before, with bigwigs over at Fifa and Uefa only extending the football calendar, rather than stripping any of it back.
In fact, Fifa’s new 32-team Club World Cup format and Uefa’s Swiss model Champions League revamp will see top stars somehow have to play even more.
Most players tend to eat quite beige meals, with chicken and rice about as exciting as it gets.
In previous years, however, it was very different – with some footballers keeping to bonkers habits.
And it’s nice to see that, even now, there’s room for a few mavericks that still swim against the tide when it comes to boring footballer dinners.
Let’s take a look at some of the most unusual football diets past and present.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland was once described as a “freak” who “eats like a bear” by Norway team-mate Josh King.
The Manchester City star is known to eat six meals a day, consuming around 4,000 calories.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Haaland, 23, wolfs down chicken and pasta cooked without salt or oil.
While he’s also known to enjoy swordfish, sea bass and sea bream all cooked with fresh vegetables.
For him, however, one meal stands out above others – the kebab pizza.
GettyErling Haaland has a ripped physique… despite loving kebabs[/caption]
Instagram / @yummytimenorgeThe Norwegian loves a kebab pizza[/caption]
Dino Zoff
Italian goalkeeper Zoff is widely renowned as being one of the great stoppers of all time.
He may never have made it, however, if it wasn’t for a dietary tip from his gran.
Hard as it is to believe, the man that would go on win the World Cup, Euros and six Serie A titles, was snubbed by Inter Milan and Juventus when he was 14… because he was too small.
Zoff’s grandma was soon on the case, making young Dino eat EIGHT eggs a day to help his growth.
Amazingly it seemed to work, with Zoff growing to 6ft and becoming a pro, finally getting that move to Juventus in 1972 and staying for 11 years before eventually even becoming their manager.
EPADino Zoff grew to become one of the game’s finest ever goalkeepers[/caption]
GettyZoff’s gran made sure he loaded up on eggs[/caption]
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portuguese superstar Ronaldo must be doing something right, as he remains a strapping striker still scoring goals at 38, albeit in the Saudi Pro League.
Years ago it emerged that Ronaldo doesn’t believe in three meals a day… instead favouring SIX.
By eating smaller meals but at more regular intervals, he has ensured that his energy levels are always high when it comes to fulfilling his gruelling gym routine.
Ronaldo does eat a lot of chicken, which is good for being high in protein, but low in fat.
He also enjoys avocados, salad and fruit… while he proved at Euro 2020 that he would never drink Coca-Cola, sticking to water instead.
GettyCristiano Ronaldo has never been shy in taking his shirt off[/caption]
EPARonaldo only wants to be seen with water… not Coca-Cola[/caption]
Brian Clough
The late, great Cloughie enjoyed incredible success with unusual methods during his managerial career.
First he guided Derby from the second tier to First Division glory, before repeating the feat with Nottingham Forest… and adding two European Cups for good measure.
On the eve of Forest’s 1979 League Cup final clash with Southampton, Clough took the unusual step of getting his players drunk.
Recalling what happened at the team hotel, former Forest star Martin O’Neill said, nearly three decades later: “He (Clough) insisted we went down to the bar… then wouldn’t let us go to bed.”
It seemed to work, with Forest running out 3-2 winners.
PABrian Clough is one of the game’s greatest ever managers[/caption]
Kenny RamsayMartin O’Neill recounted what happened ahead of the 1979 League Cup final[/caption]
Masahiko Inoha
Japanese defender may not have been a household name in England, but having earned 21 caps for his country, won the Asian Cup in 2011, and two J. League titles, Inoha had a pretty impressive career.
That, despite seemingly being obsessed with ice cream.
Inoha, now 38, boasted that he would eat three portions of ice cream a day… including one while in the bath.
According to The Guardian, he would even offer opinions on all the different available brands while chatting with his team-mates.
Even in retirement he loves ice cream, offering up recommendations on his social media pages.
https://twitter.com/inoha19Masahiko Inoha has continued to love ice cream even in retirement[/caption]
PA:Empics SportFormer Hadjuk Split star Inoha battles with Jermaine Pennant during his playing career[/caption]
Alex Song
Former Arsenal midfielder Song enjoyed a successful career at the top level with the Gunners, Barcelona and West Ham.
He offered up some top performances… despite his old team-mate Emmanuel Frimpong claiming that he’d eat a KFC before each game at the Emirates.
Frimpong, 31, told the Telegraph in 2018: “Then there was Song, who used to go to KFC before every home game.
“On the bus to the team hotel the night before the game, he would be eating chicken nuggets.”
Getty Images – GettyAlex Song is claimed to have enjoyed a KFC before every Arsenal home game[/caption]
GettyKFC wouldn’t be most footballers’ go-to destination before a game[/caption]
Glen Johnson
In 2012, then-Liverpool star Glen Johnson claimed that he and his England team-mates would have caffeine tablets before games.
Caffeine is not banned in sport, but is on Wada’s monitoring list.
England had been due to face Poland in a World Cup qualifier 12 years ago, before the game was postponed until the next afternoon because of torrential rain.
Johnson said at the time: “A lot of the lads take ProPlus tablets before the game and we all took that for the game.
“Then the game is off and no one can sleep.”
Times Newspapers LtdGlen Johnson was in action for England against Poland in 2012[/caption]
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest transfer deals from around the world this January
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
