We’re used to seeing racing drivers doing everything they can to shed weight, but now Liverpool‘s Mo Salah is taking a leaf out of their book.
The 32-year-old was known for his curly afro, and his legacy as a Liverpool player of course, but he’s now sporting a new look that is more similar to his new manager if nothing else.
There is a history of footballers making drastic changes to their hair, Rooney’s transplant, bleach-blonde David James, and Ronaldo’s powercut to name a few.
New Reds manager Arne Slot showed his humour as he welcomed Mo Salah into “Team Bald” – the Go-Faster hairdo club as you can see in the tweet below:
“Same as mine.” 🧑🦲
Arne Slot welcoming Mo Salah into Team Bald after Liverpool players return for preseason training. 🤣🔴pic.twitter.com/Xa9LD0J9RK
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 11, 2024
But could Mo Salah’s new lightweight look actually make a difference to his form? It sounds ridiculous, but speaking to the Athletic, Sports Psychologist at Sheffield Hallam University, Zeyneb Atha, said: “Research has shown that self-esteem and body image can affect performance in athletes.”
Could it improve Mo Salah’s form?
Footballers are likely to be more self-conscious about their looks due to the vast number of people watching them each and every week. Take BBC and Sky pundit Micah Richards as an example. He gets three haircuts every week and it costs him £200 every time he goes to the barbers.
That seems very drastic, but if it keeps him confident for TV then, maybe it’s not such a bad idea.
Mo Salah was criticized for his form last season when in reality, the statistics were good. He played in 32 Premier League games, scoring 18 goals and recording 10 assists. Despite those numbers, it was Salah’s lowest-scoring season since he joined Liverpool in 2017, so maybe he wanted to try something new.
It is unlikely that the former Chelsea man’s new hair will make him faster even though it technically is more aerodynamic. It also means that if he wants to defend a free kick in a wall, the extra protection and height from his afro is no longer there – think about why Carlos Valderrama was always part of the wall.
But all jokes aside, if ex-Chelsea man Mo Salah’s new look gives him a boost of confidence and improves his self-esteem, then there’s no reason why he won’t improve this season.
If he struggles, however, we can just blame it on the hair!
