What is the first thing you think of when you hair the names of David Beckham or Cristaino Ronaldo? Yes, exactly…style.
But almost every footballer now is a style icon or at least thinks they are. Photo Shoots and PR opportunities are plentiful in the modern day but you must go back to where it all began.
Balls.ie will guide you through the decades and show you the men who shaped style in the footballing world.
1960’s
He must be mentioned as the founding father or possibly the Godfather of Fashion in Football, it can only be George Best. This fresh, talented strikingly devilish young man was a breath of fresh air to the modern day footballer of the time.
His impact on footballer style can only be compared to Beatles and what they did for music. While doing the business on the field this cool cat was strutting his stuff off it as well.
The long dark hair and locks, the flares, bell-bottoms and open top shirt button blew away any of the competition.
Best by name best reputation. The Belfast boy changed the image of the footballer in England and made it fun to one for all the dotting women.
Although anybody would have looked better standing next to the ultimate comb over of Bobby Charlton.
1970’s
This is quite simply the decade of the perm. Trailing through those archive clips and of re-runs of Match of the Day, those bouncing curls were the signature of the 70’s.
With Liverpool ruling the roost in the British Isles so too were the players when it came to the fashion stakes.
Kevin Keegan was a poster boy of this era and before his move to Germany, most teens and young males in these parts copied his fashion. This fantastic no.7 was known for the blazer jackets and tight dark trousers that had women weak at the knees.
Towards the tail end of the decade, Graeme Souness, who is no stranger to our shores, had the recognisable and fashion statement moustache. The accuracy and maintenance of the ‘tache showed he was a man that was not afraid to look after himself.
1980’s
Shiny suit jackets and jeans were as popular as footballers singing pop song and what better pair to carry the flame through the 80’s than Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle.
The flare players on the pitch were also the ones pulling the strings off it. Hoddle and Waddle were the precursor to Robson and Jerome. Someone famous for something, let them make a record so.
Music and Football just has not mixed over the years but at least the lads looked good while the failed in the recording studios.
The mullets that were donned by the pair have never been equalled by a footballing pair since and arguably they stake a claim for best maintained footballers ever.
Silky skills and shirts were the order of the day and who can forget the incredibly short shorts the singing duet sported every Saturday afternoon.
1990’s-2000’s
Like earlier, there is really only one man who got the magazines talking about his life off the pitch rather than on it and it was David Beckham.
Brylcreem sponsorship deals, hair bands, wearing the same clothes as your wife (the leather jacket and trousers if you cannot remember) as well as your own cologne were just some of the fine elements to Brand Beckham.
The Man United’s hair update became an almost weekly fascination, so much so, that he began to train in a hat to disguise it from on looking photographers when rumours circled that he had changed his style.
As the years rolled on the clothes started to come off and the hottest property in football was now posing in his white fronts. Women could not get enough of him and men wanted to be him.
But as his disagreements with Alex Ferguson became public and his wife wanted to move to the abroad, a new style novice came on the scene - Cristiano Ronaldo.
So whether you want to look as suave as CR7 or permtastic as Kevin Keegan, check out Jacamo.ie for some excellent bargains.
