What's life like for a pro footballer?
Discussion
I'm intrigued to know what a typical week looks like.
When do they train? For how long and what does it constitute. How do they travel to matches? How much normal day to day stuff is done for them.
For instance, say you play for Man United and have an away game at Crystal Palace on Wednesday at 8pm. Do you get on a team coach back to Manchester after the game, is your car left at the training ground. What sort of training do you do mid season. What do you do for home games? Do you all meet for a pre match meal etc etc.
Just out of curiosity really.
When do they train? For how long and what does it constitute. How do they travel to matches? How much normal day to day stuff is done for them.
For instance, say you play for Man United and have an away game at Crystal Palace on Wednesday at 8pm. Do you get on a team coach back to Manchester after the game, is your car left at the training ground. What sort of training do you do mid season. What do you do for home games? Do you all meet for a pre match meal etc etc.
Just out of curiosity really.
I saw something about the top teams, might have been Utd, not sure, but if you have a problem in your house (probably a £3m one in Wilmslow or something) with say a burst pipe, then you don't look in the yellow pages or do a google search for a plumber, you contact someone at the club - and they sort it - locating someone on the list of vetted suppliers etc and taking care of it - whether they take care of the bill though wasn't explained. Maybe the club bill the player or something?
Pampered doesn't come close!
Pampered doesn't come close!
One of my OH's mates is married to a PL club physio.
Players generally train in the mornings. They turn up at the training ground around 9am. Breakfast is laid on for them by the club. Cereal, fruit etc. Definitely no fry-ups. They warm up with a run around the pitch or by using static bikes etc in the gym then training is from 10 to around 12. Content of the training sessions varies. Sometimes they work on fitness, sometimes skills, sometimes tactical preparation for the next game eg set piece drills, who is marking which opposition player etc.
After training, it's time for a massage, stretching & warm-down, then it's lunchtime. The club provides a healthy lunch buffet, (lean meat, pasta, salads, smoothies etc) which players are required to eat. They don't want them heading off to McDonalds. The physios swill then work with any injured or rehabbing players.
After lunch, the players are free to go home. They are encouraged to eat healthily, rest and sleep. No alcohol in the 48 hours before a game. Many players don't drink at all. When the team is playing away, they will typically meet up at the training ground the day before the game, travel by coach, train or air and stay at a hotel the night before the game.
Players generally train in the mornings. They turn up at the training ground around 9am. Breakfast is laid on for them by the club. Cereal, fruit etc. Definitely no fry-ups. They warm up with a run around the pitch or by using static bikes etc in the gym then training is from 10 to around 12. Content of the training sessions varies. Sometimes they work on fitness, sometimes skills, sometimes tactical preparation for the next game eg set piece drills, who is marking which opposition player etc.
After training, it's time for a massage, stretching & warm-down, then it's lunchtime. The club provides a healthy lunch buffet, (lean meat, pasta, salads, smoothies etc) which players are required to eat. They don't want them heading off to McDonalds. The physios swill then work with any injured or rehabbing players.
After lunch, the players are free to go home. They are encouraged to eat healthily, rest and sleep. No alcohol in the 48 hours before a game. Many players don't drink at all. When the team is playing away, they will typically meet up at the training ground the day before the game, travel by coach, train or air and stay at a hotel the night before the game.
Edited by Bradgate on Sunday 4th January 02:17
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Most PL clubs meet at a hotel either the night before or on the morning of a home game. They lunch together and discuss tactics before travelling to their own ground by coach.
At Arsenal the players all drive to the ground themselves....benefit of a modern stadium having a huge (700 cars IIRC) car park under the stands.Cheib said:
At Arsenal the players all drive to the ground themselves....benefit of a modern stadium having a huge (700 cars IIRC) car park under the stands.
Surprises me that (I'm not saying your making it up btw) as you would think the club would want to make sure all the players arrive on time and safely. Know how bad the traffic is getting to Old Trafford so around London it's probably worse!A good friend of mine teaches quite a few of the United and City players golf and is good mates with Milner so will get him to ask their routines...
In my experience, most of the home team use their own cars to get to the ground. Or at least, they did when I was trawling around the Premiership grounds, I don't do it so often these days, so things may have changed. At Old Trafford they'd drive to the gate where a 'valet' would take the car and park it for them.
Thankyou4calling said:
... How much normal day to day stuff is done for them?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11323728...Cheib said:
At Arsenal the players all drive to the ground themselves....benefit of a modern stadium having a huge (700 cars IIRC) car park under the stands.
At Arsenal they drive to the ground early morning or night before. Then go off together on a coach to a hotel in Docklands, and then back to the ground. Heard Ray parlour talking about it on talkSPORT.uk66fastback said:
I saw something about the top teams, might have been Utd, not sure, but if you have a problem in your house (probably a £3m one in Wilmslow or something) with say a burst pipe, then you don't look in the yellow pages or do a google search for a plumber, you contact someone at the club - and they sort it - locating someone on the list of vetted suppliers etc and taking care of it - whether they take care of the bill though wasn't explained. Maybe the club bill the player or something?
Pampered doesn't come close!
Chap I know (pl footballer) was beaten and held at knifepoint in his own home, in front of his kids. Pampering is not all its about.Pampered doesn't come close!
XM5ER said:
uk66fastback said:
I saw something about the top teams, might have been Utd, not sure, but if you have a problem in your house (probably a £3m one in Wilmslow or something) with say a burst pipe, then you don't look in the yellow pages or do a google search for a plumber, you contact someone at the club - and they sort it - locating someone on the list of vetted suppliers etc and taking care of it - whether they take care of the bill though wasn't explained. Maybe the club bill the player or something?
Pampered doesn't come close!
Chap I know (pl footballer) was beaten and held at knifepoint in his own home, in front of his kids. Pampering is not all its about.Pampered doesn't come close!
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