Wearing two pairs of socks is becoming more and more popularised in both amateur and professional sport. Although it may be weird wondering why would someone wear two pair of socks, it actually makes sense. We know that professional basketball and tennis players wear two pairs of socks, but what about professional soccer players?
Do professional soccer players wear two pairs of socks?
Most professional soccer players wear two pairs of socks during the game. Wearing two pairs of socks for soccer players does two major things: it produces less friction between the sock and the football boot and increases comfort. Soccer players generally prefer wearing compression socks.
Ok, that would be a short and direct answer. In the following chapters, I will talk about the benefits of wearing two socks, what socks they wear, which players do that, and why football players cut holes in their socks.
Make yourself comfortable and enjoy reading.
Let’s dive in.
Why Do Professional Soccer Players Wear Two Pairs of Socks?
I started playing soccer when I was very young, maybe six or so. After a couple of years, I started noticing some of my friends wearing two pairs of socks but I didn’t really question why. And then I saw professional players doing the same thing. Ok, there must be something about it.
I mean, they don’t do this without any purpose, there must be some explanation. As the years went by, I completely forgot about it but recently I saw a Real Madrid game and it hit me again. After that game, I finally decided to make some research. Here is what I have found:
- Wearing two pairs of socks reduces friction between the player’s sock and the football boot
- Wearing two pairs of socks increases comfort during the game
- Wearing two pair of socks help to prevent blisters
Now let’s explain each one in greater detail.
Wearing two pairs of socks reduces friction between the player’s sock and the football boot
When you wear one pair of socks you create two interfaces: the shoe-sock interface and the skin-sock interface, with each of them generating a lot of friction. The coefficient of friction (COF) is the measurement of friction level and it is typically less than one. High friction between these two interfaces increases the negative impact on the joints during starts, explosive stops, and lateral movements.
Simply wearing two pairs of socks solves this problem. Namely, having an additional interface creates structural padding underneath the feet. It also provides extra angle support to decrease the chances of an ankle injury. I have also noticed that when wearing just one layer of the sock, my foot often slides around in the shoe.
Wearing two pairs of socks increases comfort during the game
Soccer game lasts 90 minutes, sometimes even more. This is a long time for being uncomfortable, especially because soccer requires constant moving. In every moment you have to be ready for a sprint or quick change of direction. Wearing two pairs of socks during a soccer game reduces skin irritation which in turn increases comfort by a significant amount. It also reduces foot abuse. Since professional players have to be in their top form every game, having good foot comfort is crucial.
Wearing two pair of socks help to prevent blisters
If you never had blisters you never played soccer. Blisters are extremely common among professional athletes due to their everyday activities. I mean, no wonder looking at the amount of time they spend working out. The two socks slide across one another before there is a movement anywhere else.
This is why the two pair of socks greatly reduces the probability of forming blisters by reducing skin irritation. No player wants to experience a painful blister during the game. However, if you think you need another layer of protection, we recommend using blister protection.
What Socks Do Professional Soccer Players Wear?
There are many sports socks available today. Each of them has its intended purpose, benefits, and downsides. Unlike normal socks, sports socks are made for an activity level that involves a lot of sweating and foot traction and movement.
Professional soccer players generally wear compression socks either under or over their standard football socks. Compression socks allow the player the support needed to play at the highest level by providing the required blood flow and circulation.
Compression socks (affiliate link) have been around for a lot of time. However, its only been in the last couple of years that professional athletes have added them to their bag of performances. They are primarily designed to help improve blood flow in people prone to swelling, varicose veins, and circulatory issues. After some time, athletes started using them in the hopes of having similar benefits in improved blood flow.
In the beginning, a couple of runners wore tight stockings during longer endurance runs. They reported faster recoveries and improved running performances. Some of the other benefits of compression socks include:
- Vein support
- Reduced swelling
- Increased circulation
- Prevention of leg ulcers
- Decrease in fatigue
As a soccer player, it is not just enough to wear them but knowing how to wear them is also important. The role is the sock so your toes are straight to the bottom. After that, roll the sock up the sole of your foot and then to the top of the calf. Note that some players roll down an inch of the top which keeps the sock in place and increases comfort.
It is usually recommended to remove them so that your legs return to their normal state. However, it is good to have them on the warmup so you can adjust to the compression. The sizing is also very important. You have to buy socks that are specifically made for your foot size. No bigger, no smaller. Wearing the wrong size of compression socks will restrict blood circulation and put a strain on your leg muscle.
Some of the well-known football players wearing them include Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Pogba, and many others.
Why Do Soccer Players Cut Their Socks?
Before I answer this question, I should note there are two ways of wearing a double sock system. One of them is simply wearing two pairs of socks. The second one is wearing double-layer socks. The funny practice of soccer players cutting the feet off their socks started about 10 years ago. As shirts and shorts evolved by becoming more fitting and using dry-fit material, socks also followed that trend.
Soccer players cut holes in their socks so they can wear some grippy socks. These socks are usually double-layered so wearing the football socks over them would be too much. This is actually one of the most popular ways of wearing football socks, especially among professionals.
Some of them do this for the sponsorships money they receive from their apparel provider. But the majority of players report improved grip they get inside their boots. In 2012, Harry Redknapp (former Tottenham Hotspur manager) was frustrated by his players for this exact reason.
He simply could not understand why they cut up their socks. Players would use the tape to cover up their handiwork, which would drive the manager furious even more. Here is the tape (affiliate link) we recommend.
If you choose to do this, first you have to cut off the foot part of the sock. After, put on your preferred socks. Note that they should not be higher than mid-shin. Now, simply pull the football sock over the preferred socks. So, football socks are now like leg sleeves instead of a sock. All that is left is to tape the end of your football socks. In the video below you can see exactly how it is done.
We wrote the entire article on this topic, so make sure to read Why Do Soccer Players Cut Their Socks? (Science-Backed).
Conclusion
And there you have it, the whole explanation of why most professional soccer players use the double sock system. The style of wearing can vary among the players, but the effect is similar, reduced friction, increased comfort, and prevention of blisters. At first, I thought that there is no reason for doing that except the visual. However, the more I researched, the more I found the science that stands behind it.
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