Jack Grealish became an England hero at Euro 2020, and was touted as the poster boy of the championships.
His contributions to the Three Lions last year was immense and City fans have since taken him to their hearts following his £100m transfer from Aston Villa in August. His on-field look became somewhat iconic as he grew to be a household name during the summer, his swished-back hair and bulky bare calves making him an unmistakably recognisable figure on the pitch.
It’s now not an uncommon sight to see footballing youngsters donning the low socks look and he has clearly inspired the upcoming generation to add some swagger to their skill. Grealish has now explained the story behind why he chooses to wear his stockings so low when he’s on the pitch.
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“That was just something that I’ve done since I was a kid,” he told UEFA ahead of City’s Champions League second leg with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
“I think I was about 14 or 15 at Villa, and the socks used to shrink in the wash. In training, I couldn’t get [them] over my calves because the socks were so small.
“I started wearing them underneath my calves in training and that season I ended up playing really well. It was just something that stuck because I’d had such a good season.”
When asked whether he specifically ‘maintains’ his calves, he responded: “I actually don’t. It’s just something that runs in the family; my grandad always had big calves when he used to play football.
“Honestly, it’s just something that I’ve had since I was young.” Grealish is reportedly in line for a seven-figure endorsement deal with Gucci, who have noticed his on-field stylistic demeanour.
Meanwhile, the playmaker was clearly a target for Atletico players after he entered the pitch for the final 20 minutes of City’s 1-0 first leg win at the Etihad last week. The attacker won a number of fouls and had the ball kicked in his face by Angel Correa after being felled by a tackle.
He may start in Spain tonight as City look to set-up a semi-final meeting with Real Madrid, who beat Chelsea in extra time on Tuesday.
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