FOOTBALLERS… sometimes they’re just like us.
Former Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil showed what a regular guy he was by taking the Tube for a sightseeing tour before he left out shores for Turkey.
But the German star isn’t the first footballer to brave the rush hour crowd and take a trip on the London Underground.
Messrs Dier, Eriksen and Zaha have all charged up their Oyster cards and got on a train.
And there’s an honourable mention for former Spurs manager Christian Gross who bragged about getting the Tube to his first press conference as Tottenham boss. A pioneer in these circles.
The German national team
Before they played England in an international friendly at Wembley back in 2013, Per Mertesacker, Mats Hummels and manager Joachim Low tried the underground.
They ventured on the Bakerloo Line, talking to other commuters and did the best to fit in with the locals.
They said they did it to escape the congested streets of London, and the German FA were delighted it was their first time on the Tube.
Apparently, they changed at Baker Street, had a nosey at the Sherlock Holmes museum before heading to the Metropolitan Line to get to Wembley Park.
Christian Eriksen and Eric Dier
Because it’s always best for footballing team-mates to travel in pairs.
Former Spurs star Eriksen and his pal Dier were snapped a day after celebrating a 4-1 win over Sunderland in 2016 on the Tube.
They seemed in jovial spirits as they joked with each other and passengers, happily posing for snaps.
No word on where they got off, but they were enjoying some downtime before a crucial game against Leicester.
Wilfried Zaha
The Palace winger uses his dazzling feet to good effect on the pitch, so he definitely should’ve paid attention to those ‘Mind the Gap’ announcements.
After a game against Manchester City in 2016 at the Etihad, Zaha was seen completing the final leg of his journey home on the Tube.
Better still, he even wore his full kit – just so he couldn’t be missed.
And like a seasoned traveler, he had some headphones on and wasn’t ready to talk to any other commuters, preferring to keep to himself.
Juan Mata
You would’ve thought they’d lay on a car…
Before Spanish international Mata joined Man United, he was snapped getting on the Tube to get a connecting train to Manchester in 2014.
But he clearly wasn’t a Tube regular, oh no, no, no, because he was wrapped up far too warm. Everyone knows how sweaty you can get underground.
He should’ve ditched the hat!
Joey Barton
He’s just a regular Joe now…
The former Man City midfielder turned manager showed he’s just like one of us when he was pictured getting on the train back in 2014.
One keen fan decided to share his snap on Twitter, telling the world Joey was ‘slumming it’ but we think it’s commendable.
However, not too sure of the John Lennon-style breton cap though.
Peter Crouch
There would definitely be far more comfortable ways for the big man to travel!
‘Crouchy’ was spied squeezing his 6’7″ frame into a carriage shortly after announcing his missus Abbey Clancy was expecting their third child.
Trying to go as incognito as possible, Peter wore a baseball cap over his face and a white shirt to seem like an every man.
It was a busy Friday night, but that didn’t stop Peter enjoying his ride though on the Northern Line.
Hatem Ben Arfa
When the Frenchman was plying his trade at Newcastle United in 2014, he thought he’d give the Tube a go.
Shortly after wearing the black and white of the Toon, he topped up his Oyster card and touched into the Underground.
One eager fan managed to get a snap with his hero, even hashtag calling the midfielder a ‘#toplad’ for his efforts.
Ben Arfa doesn’t look that thrilled to have been spotted though.
Marc Albrighton
When the Leicester City wide man was at Aston Villa, he made one young fan’s day by posing for a snap.
Albrighton was traveling on the Tube, presumably the District and Hammersmith and City lines, after a game against West Ham United.
Good on Albrighton for happily smiling for a photo, as well as taking the Tube like a normal fan in 2012.
Joe Ledley and Martin Kelly
Palace full back Kelly and former Eagle Joe Ledley took on the commoners route by going underground.
The pair were tickled pink when they were spotted and snapped sat down in their full sports regala on the Tube in 2015.
But by the looks of Kelly attentively gazing at the Underground map, he needed to have a good look to see where he was going.
Vlad Chiriches
You would never recognise him…
The former Spurs centre half could’ve gone completely unnoticed on the Tube if one eagle-eyed fan hadn’t sneaked this picture.
Casually dressed in a hoodie and jeans, with his earphones plugged into his ears, Chiriches seemed at ease on the train in 2014.
In fact, we’ve never seen him look so comfortable in North London.
Lewis Holtby
While on loan at Fulham, the German midfielder endeared himself to The Cottagers faithful by taking the Tube home after a game.
After all, he just starred in a 1-0 win over Newcastle back in 2014 and wanted to share a snap of himself being a regular punter.
He wrote for the caption: “What a Relief!! Very happy to have won today:-))) as u probably notice “smile”
“Still.. Next Station, Home!;-))))) Thx for The brillant Support, amazing Spirit at craven cottage!” Legend.
Christian Gross
The modern day Tube pioneer.
When Christian Gross took up his post at Tottenham Hotspur in 1997 he decided he would take the Tube to his press conference.
Proud of his efforts, he then told a pack of journalists (proudly flashing his travelcard) and calling it “the ticket of his dreams.”
A year later he was sacked, but we’ll never forget that moment.
Oriol Romeu
A cheeky pretender to the crown…
The Southampton midfielder had a pop at Mesut Ozil’s Tube snap by posting his own on Instagram.
Romeu even slyly captioned the pic, where he looked moody, “Doing Ozil’s things” with a winking face emoji, as well as a train emoji.
Maybe Romeu had the hump because no one recognised him?
Roberto Mancini
When our SunSport reporter Gary Stonehouse spotted Roberto Mancini on the Tube, he couldn’t wait to get a snap.
We spied the Italian don heading to Wembley for his former club Man City’s semi-final clash with Arsenal.
“Legend” Mancini posted for pictures with fans, telling one he wanted to be Arsenal manager next season.
He also gave our Gary some great Tube banter.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
