This archive report was first published on 31 July 2019.
Patrice Evra, the former Manchester United defender, has shared a surprising secret to his success: playing with a piece of chicken in his boot.
According to Evra, the ritual started in the 2005/06 season while he was playing for Monaco. He suffered an injury while playing for the French Under-21 team and was given an unusual piece of advice by the team staff.
Evra recalled in an interview with the Players' Tribune: “An opponent had stamped on my foot and damaged it badly. In the hospital I told the Monaco coach, Didier Deschamps, ‘It’s too painful. I can’t play. I can’t even walk!’
However, the team needed him, and the doctors tried various methods to alleviate the pain. It was then that someone suggested an 'old school' remedy: sliding a chicken down his boot.
Evra, being open-minded, decided to try it. He visited his local butcher and ordered a tiny piece of chicken, which he then placed in his boot. He played with the chicken in his boot for four months, visiting the butcher before every game to collect the 'usual'.
Evra's performances improved significantly, and in January 2006, he was signed by Manchester United, where he went on to make 379 appearances and win five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
