Eye of the tiger? X Gon Give it to Ya? The theme from Gladiator?
We all have different songs to get – as an American would say – ‘jacked.’
And guess what? Premier League football players are no different, what does differ is the particular song choices from these seven.
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Dejan Lovren – Tina Turner ‘Simply the Best’
The Croatian defender isn’t what you would call modest.
The man who claimed he was one of the world’s best defenders keeps it upbeat when he isn’t listening to his ‘You are awesome’ audio book.
His other rituals before a game include ten minutes of mirror time and throwing darts at a cut-out of a far lesser defender, Sergio Ramos.
*Also on the playlist – Joe Esposito’s ‘You’re the Best Around’ and ‘I’m the Best’ by Nicki Minaj.*
Diego Costa – AC/DC ‘Back in Black’
Apparently this was Costa’s favourite song growing up as a young pup.
Soon, the harsh unrelenting rock ‘n’ roll became a life source to the bulldozing centre forward.
The first line of English he learned is from the AC/DC tune, ‘Don’t push your luck, just get out of my way’
Whether you were the bloke in the picture, Roman Abramovich or the Queen of England he will yell the lyrics in your general direction whilst head-banging and even air-guitaring like the pissed up uncle at the New Year’s do.
*Also on the playlist – David Bowie ‘Rebel Rebel’ Ludacris ‘Move B***h’ and The Rolling Stones ‘Street Fighting Man’*
Paul Pogba – James Blunt ‘Goodbye my Lover’
‘Did I disappoint you? Or let you down?’
The opening two lines alone are enough to bring a tear to the eye of the World Cup winner since the departure of Jose Mourinho
Now, we’re not suggesting Pogba’s relationship with his former manager was anything more than a professional platonic one but there was an unspoken intimacy between the pair.
And it is James Blunt’s soothing tone and relatable lyrics which have left the midfielder devastated.
His grievances have led to a dramatic improvement on the pitch – every cloud and all that.
*Also on the playlist – Al Green ‘How can you Mend a Broken Heart’ Beyonce ‘Irreplaceable’ and Bill Withers ‘Ain’t no Sunshine’*
Mark Noble – ‘God Save the Queen’
The West Ham captain is the only man on these shores not bricking it about Brexit.
The midfield man plays ‘Jerusalem’ and Winston Churchill’s ‘We shall fight on the beaches’ speech to spur his team on at half-time.
Noble never made a senior appearance for the Three Lions with risk of emotional and respiratory problems during the anthem denying him the opportunity.
*Also on the playlist – Blur ‘Parklife,’ Sex Pistols ‘God Save the Queen’ and the theme song from ‘The Great Escape’*
Jamie Vardy – Simon & Garfunkel ‘The Sound of Silence’
You would expect the Arctic Monkeys or some Kasabian from the Leicester striker but that isn’t the number nine’s vibe.
He is a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel but says ‘Mrs Robinson’ is a bit noisy and basey for a match day.
The striker downloads BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Archers’ for the coach ride home and won’t have any of that ‘hip-hop malarkey’ played in the dressing room.
*Also on the playlist, Bob Dylan ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ Adele ‘Hello’ and Billy Joel ‘Vienna.’*
Jesse Lingard – The Courteeners ‘Not Nineteen Forever’
This one is not by choice.
Lingard’s PR agent left the Man United man with just these four songs on his phone.
Following some more embarrassing dancing from the man who is closer to 30 than he is 20, his agent took every possible step to help mature the England international.
‘You’re not nineteen forever, pull yourself together’ being the message they want to hammer into his brain.
*Also on the playlist, Fleetwood Mac ‘Stop Messin ‘Round,’ Olly Murs ‘Grow Up’ and Foster the People ‘Coming of Age.’*
Marko Arnautovic – Lenny Kravitz ‘Fly Away’
‘I want to get away, I wanna fly away’ That is a transcript from the Austrian’s January meeting with the West Ham board, coincidentally it is the opening to the song as well.
While Lenny Kravitz wanted to see the stars and the milky way, poor old Arnautovic just wants a trip to China – he’s not asking for much in the grand scheme of things.
*Also on the playlist, Nelly Furtado ‘I’m Like a Bird,’ Gorillaz ‘Let me Out’ and The Beatles ‘Help.’*
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