{"id":37720,"date":"2022-02-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.milleworld.com\/philosophies-from-football\/"},"modified":"2022-11-21T11:27:27","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T11:27:27","slug":"philosophies-from-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.milleworld.com\/philosophies-from-football\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Philosophies I Learned from Watching Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

From deities to family and philosophers, every generation draws on different things for guidance. Personally, when I find myself in times of trouble, I hit the books from Zi\u017eek to Al-Ghazali. I dive deep into their reasoning, their thoughts and most of all their quotes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure that I’m not the only one. There are many like me. Some nations are even known by their respective philosophers; the Germans have Hegel, the French have Descartes and Brazil\u2026 Well, Brazil has won five World Cups.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Yes, there\u2019s an intrinsic link between the world of sports and philosophy. Ancient Greece being the birthplace of both sports and philosophy. Sport was regarded as a moral education, with Plato advocating the participation of women in sport for their moral enrichment. Aristotle emphasized physical activity as an ethical responsibility. It\u2019s also important to mention that the participants of these sports usually competed without clothes, under the strong Mediterranean sun – we\u2019ll pretend that piece of info is also morally enriching. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>Men and women all over the world play football, from the dusty streets of Cairo to the pristine grasses of Wembley Stadium. The question is: why? Why do so many people not only watch football, but also play it in their spare time? Aside from the inherent fun of playing the sport, there is the knowledge that no matter who you are or where you’re from, if you can just get really good at this one game, you can ascend to Ronaldo-esque heights of wealth and social status. Football is a sport that can make those dreams real.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be it the aggression, be it the raised voices, or be it the passion from the fans – the sport as a whole is usually viewed as masculine, full of bravado, in jokes and civic pride. Away from this sea of (perhaps toxic) masculinity, it\u2019s important to mention that football is inclusive, it\u2019s enjoyed by everyone, and it costs nothing to play.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>But from football are born some of the biggest heartbreaks, and most elating moments that life can bring to a person. Just ask your closest football affascinato what traumatized them the most; past relationships or their team getting knocked out of the qualifying stages of the Champions League in 2014 – I assure you their answer will be the latter. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>We can also look into the more performative aspect of the sport. Eleven people, in shorts, sliding, spinning and pirouetting to achieve the crescendo of putting a ball into a net. It\u2019s beautiful, almost like a work of art – if the art gallery featured people tackling each other, rolling on the floor, and screaming for the attention of the gallery manager. <\/span>
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\n<\/b>Within sports exists a tense dichotomy between the physical and the performative. Sports are contests of strength and endurance, but they’re also public spectacles that rake in millions through television ads. The element of a physical struggle between two opposing teams is compelling on its own, but the crowd, chants, and the exaggerated reactions of the players to their wins and losses keep the viewer engaged between goals.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>The philosophy of football is created by the fans, the players and the respective club coaches. And I for one am no different, as a fan of football my entire life, it seems only natural to adhere to its philosophical lessons. There’s a clear connection between sports and war. There is little daylight between the American army singing “Yankee Doodle” during the Revolutionary War and Manchester United die-hard\u2019s chanting “Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough!” <\/span>
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\n<\/span>After receiving enlightenment from esteemed Eastern philosopher and tactician Sun Zu, and the beautiful game of football enjoyed by millions, I thought it best to compile a list of my favorite football philosophies. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>‘Football is one of the world’s best means of communication.’<\/b><\/h2>\n

Franz Beckenbauer<\/span>
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\"Franz<\/a><\/p>\n


\nYou don’t need to speak the local lingo in order to be able to communicate with a ball. Anyone who\u2019s traveled and played abroad will know this philosophical nugget. You don\u2019t have to be fluent in the native tongue if you can nutmeg three players and bag a naughty 90th minute free kick – you\u2019re a legend in any country, regardless of language.
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‘Bouncebackability’<\/b><\/h2>\n

Iain Dowie<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n\"Iain<\/a>
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Bouncebackabiltiy refers to <\/span>the ability to be successful again after a period of failure. Turning that L into a W. Acing the exam after a semester of under performing. That\u2019s something we all need, especially in times of difficulty, the reminder that perseverance and dedication can help you achieve your goal is comforting.<\/span><\/p>\n

‘Hairdryer Treatment’<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sir Alex Fergason <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Sir<\/a>
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\nComing etymologically from the words hairdryer and treatment, we conjure the image of shouting at someone so close to their face, that your hot breath could dry their hair. Naturally, the term ‘hairdryer treatment’ is used in football to describe an angry verbal reprimand, usually delivered by a manager to an individual player or group of players within a dressing room.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>It\u2019s also absolutely hilarious to watch.<\/span><\/p>\n