Footballers who love classical music

Think football and classical music can't mix? As the 2017/18 football season is now well underway, we couldn't resist taking a look at a few sporting stars who are just as crazy about classical music as we are.

1. Fabio Capello and Valery Gergiev

He once managed the Russian national football team, so it's perhaps no surprise former England manager Fabio Capello is a fan of the influential Russian maestro, Valery Gergiev, who he's described as 'one of the best conductors around'. Pictures: Getty
2. Roy Hodgson loves opera

Roy Hodgson stepped in to manage Inter Milan for six games in 1999 as a favour to Internazionale president Massimo Moratti. Instead of asking for money, the current England manager asked for tickets to world famous opera house, La Scala. The pair went together to the opera house to indulge in an evening of Verdi. Pictures: Getty
3. David Beckham and Beethoven

David revealed a penchant for percussion in a recent Samsung ad, where he performed the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 - by kicking footballs at individually tuned drums hung on a wall. While Golden Balls hasn't explicitly said he's a Beethoven fan, we're sure he'd approve of our additions to his body art. Pictures: Getty/Creative Commons
4. Arsène Wenger's relaxing classical habit

There's nothing like letting off steam after a stressful day. But Arsenal manager Wenger's a sensitive soul, and likes nothing better than taking a calming drive to clear his head, accompanied by the soothing strains of classical music. Pictures: Getty
5. Nolberto Solano and the trumpet

Nobby spent much of his career in the English Premier League, as well as playing 95 times for Peru... but when he's not playing football, he's playing music. He's an accomplished trumpet player, and has even set up a salsa band. Pictures: Getty/Creative Commons
6. Tony Adams and his love of the piano

Former Arsenal defender Tony Adams used the healing power of classical music to recover from an addiction to alcohol in the 90s. As well as taking up French and embarking on a sports science degree course, Adams started playing the piano - even bringing a portable keyboard along to away games. Pictures: Getty
7. Giovanni Trapattoni and his classical LPs

Trapattoni was forced to choose between football training and music practice when he was just 10 years old. His French horn playing was left by the wayside, but that hasn't stopped the celebrated international manager: he's a big fan of Beethoven and Mozart records, and has even suggested his players listen to Bach to inspire them before big games. Pictures: Getty/Creative Commons
8. Jurgen Klopp on Arsène Wenger's 'orchestra'

Former Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp once explained the differences between his side and Arsenal with an unlikely classical simile. While he takes a more 'heavy metal' approach to team management, he described Wenger's style as serene, 'like an orchestra'. Pictures: Getty/Creative Commons
9. Paul Scharner is a fan of Mozart

When not dying his hair crazy colours, retired defender Paul Scharner was vocal about his love of a wide range of music, from U2 to Mozart. "I spend time imagining how he pieces his music together," he said of the great classical genius. "I wonder how it is possible to think that big, to bring together the violins and wind instruments." Pictures: Getty/Creative Commons
10. Lionel Messi plays piano

Considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time, the Argentinian internationalist showed the world that he's not only skilled with a football when he gave an impromptu performance of the UEFA Champions League anthem on piano. Pictures: PA