Jack Grealish rose to footballing stardom in 2019 when he captained Aston Villa back to the Premier League.
Since then he has established an instantly recognisable look on the pitch.
The headband, long-sleeved undershirt and very low socks are staples of Grealish’s on-pitch appearance, but it all started back when he was a teenager.
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Why does Jack Grealish wear his socks so low?
In an interview with GQ in 2021, the Manchester City man explained the roots of his now iconic sock style.
“It began during one season when I was 15 or 16 and the socks in training kept shrinking,” Grealish said.
“I had to wear them underneath my calves and that season I ended up playing really well. So I ended up keeping them like that and to this day I’ve still got them.”
If you’re watching England play and think Grealish’s shin pads look comically small, it’s because they are.
“My shin pads are kids size, seven to eight, so that’s why they’re so small,” he explained.
This isn’t the first example of superstition from the Birmingham-born midfielder.
In Aston Villa’s run to promotion in the 2018/19 season, Grealish sported a pair of severely worn-down football boots.
Never forget Jack Grealish’s lucky boots from the 2019 Championship play-off final…😂🌟 pic.twitter.com/rxjqNuikUk
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 7, 2021
Players who wear short socks
Other players have begun to sport a similar standout look to Grealish by wearing their socks low.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold:
Barcelona and Netherlands star Memphis Depay:
Arsenal flyer Emile Smith-Rowe:
Has Jack Grealish played in the World Cup?
Grealish has featured in each of England’s four matches so far in Qatar, with each appearance coming off the bench.
In England’s emphatic opening win over Iran, Grealish scored their sixth of the match after an unselfish pass from Callum Wilson.
Jack Grealish England record
Since his England debut in 2020, Grealish has gone on to earn 38 caps for the Three Lions.
His goal against Iran in Qatar was just his second for his country, though he has bagged six assists in his international career.
Jack Grealish clubs
After two seasons of outstanding performances in a somewhat struggling Villa side, Grealish was snapped up by champions Manchester City for a whopping £100 million.
Since then he has made 55 appearances scoring seven goals. He earned a Premier League champions medal in 2021/22.
