
Football players lead a life of constant motion, with their sport demanding frequent travel for league matches, cup fixtures, and international duties. As such, they often find themselves jetting off to far-flung stadiums or boarding team coaches to nearby cities. When it comes to travelling to away games, football teams typically opt for coaches, trains, or planes, depending on various factors such as distance and timing. While coaches are the most common mode of transport for shorter distances, trains are preferred for journeys exceeding four hours by road, and planes are usually reserved for European matches or longer domestic flights.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Modes of transportation | Private jets, team buses, personal vehicles |
Purpose of private jets | Custom flight schedules, avoiding the general public, comfort |
Purpose of team buses | Team unity, strategizing, light-hearted banter |
Purpose of personal vehicles | Convenience, freedom, avoiding team travel constraints |
Travel considerations for long-haul flights | Hydration, comfortable seating, onboard exercises, sleep experts |
Travel considerations for nearby cities | Routes, onboard facilities (e.g. WiFi, physiotherapy) |
Accommodations | Luxury hotels, rented spaces, team facilities |
Purpose of accommodations | Rest and recovery, comfort, normalcy |
Travel essentials | Playing gear, training equipment, personal hygiene products, nutritional supplements, recovery tools, personal electronics, clothing, personal items, health essentials, documentation |
Security and privacy | Strategic transport and accommodation planning, nondescript vehicles, private entrances and exits |
Environmental sustainability | Carbon offset programs |
What You'll Learn
- Private jets are used for long-haul flights to ensure comfort and customisation
- Teams travel by coach for matches under 3 hours away to limit travel time
- Clubs may hire private jets for domestic or international matches
- Footballers may travel in private cars for local journeys and daily commutes
- Security teams meticulously plan routes to avoid attention and minimise risk
Private jets are used for long-haul flights to ensure comfort and customisation
Private jets are often used by football teams for long-haul flights to ensure comfort and customisation. Wealthier football clubs may partner with airlines to organise special flights for their players, complete with custom liveries and branding. These flights offer a high level of comfort and customisation, with features such as extra legroom and recliner-style seats.
Private jets can be customised to meet the specific needs and preferences of the passengers. For example, the seating, lighting, and entertainment systems can be tailored to the passengers' preferences. This level of customisation can be particularly beneficial for long-haul flights, providing a more comfortable and relaxing travel experience.
In addition to customisation, private jets also offer speed and peace, which are important for football teams travelling to competitions in different countries. Private aviation provides flexibility and saves time by avoiding the wait for boarding commercial flights. It also allows the team to travel without the demands of fans, providing a quiet and relaxing environment.
While most football teams will rent private jets for their travels, some of the wealthiest teams and players own their own jets. For example, Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world's top players, owns two luxurious jets, including a $65.5 million Gulfstream G650.
Overall, private jets offer football teams a comfortable, customised, and efficient way to travel for long-haul flights, ensuring they arrive at their destinations well-rested and ready to perform.
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Teams travel by coach for matches under 3 hours away to limit travel time
Football teams have congested calendars with fixtures taking place in football grounds both near and far from home. To keep players fresh for matches, travel arrangements must be as stress-free as possible. As a rule of thumb, journeys to away games should not take longer than 3 hours to prevent players from becoming cramped and to ensure they can perform at their highest level.
For this reason, teams travelling to matches under 3 hours away will usually go by coach. The team will meet at the training ground the day before an away fixture and board the bus to a hotel near the opposing team's ground. The following morning, they will have breakfast and a light training session, and any final team talks will take place.
The mode of transport will depend on the duration of the journey and the location of the match. For example, if a train journey can get a football team to an away ground in under 3 hours, this will be chosen over a 4+ hour coach journey. Similarly, if the match is overseas, a team will travel by plane.
Private jets are not the norm for travelling to games, but they are used in extenuating circumstances, such as when players are returning from international duty and need to recover from their excursions before their next game.
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Clubs may hire private jets for domestic or international matches
Football clubs may hire private jets for domestic or international matches, with some top players even owning their own luxurious planes. While it is common for teams to travel by coach or team bus for shorter distances, they will often charter a passenger jet for journeys exceeding four hours by road. For international matches, private jets offer the flexibility to customise flight schedules and avoid the general public at airports, ensuring a level of comfort that aids in player recovery and relaxation.
Private jets are particularly useful for international matches, as they allow players to quickly travel long distances and arrive well-rested and ready to perform. They also provide a level of privacy and security, shielding players from the public eye and potential crowds of fans. This can be especially important during the transfer season, when players may need to travel discreetly to meet with prospective clubs.
In addition to the practical benefits, private jets can also foster team spirit and unity. Spending time together in a confined space can help players bond, discuss strategies, and build good chemistry on and off the field. This sense of closeness can be beneficial for team dynamics and performance.
For clubs with the financial means, hiring private jets can be a convenient and efficient way to transport players to and from matches. It allows them to avoid the constraints of commercial flights and provides a more relaxed and exclusive travel experience.
Some football clubs have partnerships with airlines to organise special flights for their players, complete with custom liveries and branding. For example, Real Madrid, sponsored by Emirates, flew on a specially chartered Airbus A380 to the Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Riyadh.
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Footballers may travel in private cars for local journeys and daily commutes
Footballers often have to travel for league matches, cup fixtures, and international duties. This can involve jetting off to far-flung stadiums or travelling by coach to nearby cities. Footballers may travel in private cars for local journeys and daily commutes, giving them the freedom to operate on their own schedules and avoid the constraints of organised team travel. However, for some, this can lead to increased attention from the public. For instance, players like Lionel Messi cannot drive around without attracting crowds. As a result, some players employ measures such as tinted windows, secure parking spaces, and even bait vehicles.
Private cars are often used for daily commutes to training grounds, with football clubs recommending that players live within a 30-60 minute commute of these facilities. Players will then typically board a coach to travel to a hotel the night before a game, even if it is a home game. This is because arriving together is easier, safer, and better for team dynamics.
For longer journeys, football teams will often travel by coach or charter a passenger jet. For example, teams in the English Premier League will often travel by coach if the destination is less than a four-hour drive away. However, if the travelling time is more than four hours, such as for a journey from Brighton to Newcastle, they will charter a plane. Teams will also always charter a plane for European matches, such as the UEFA Champions League, and will arrive a day early, staying in a hotel overnight before the match.
Some of the wealthiest teams partner with airlines to organise special flights for players, with custom liveries and branding. For instance, in 2023, Real Madrid's sponsor, Emirates, welcomed the team onboard a specially chartered Airbus A380 flight from Madrid to Riyadh for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final. The aircraft even featured a special livery with the club's top players.
Some of the world's top players, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, have invested in their own private planes. Of these players, Ronaldo has the most luxurious setup, owning two private jets: a $65.5 million Gulfstream G650 and a $25 million Gulfstream G200.
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Security teams meticulously plan routes to avoid attention and minimise risk
Security teams play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and privacy of football players as they travel to various cities and countries for matches. To minimise risk and avoid unwanted attention, these dedicated security professionals meticulously plan routes and transport options, always striving to keep a low profile.
For football players, striking a balance between fan interactions and maintaining privacy can be challenging. Security teams step in to address this challenge by opting for less conspicuous modes of transportation and carefully planning routes to avoid drawing crowds. This involves the use of nondescript vehicles, such as private jets or team buses, which offer a more controlled environment compared to commercial flights or public transport.
In some cases, football clubs may even charter flights or buses to ensure the team's safety and privacy. These chartered options provide greater control over flight schedules, allowing teams to customise their travel plans according to their specific needs. Additionally, private jets offer the added benefit of helping players recover and relax in comfort, which is essential for their performance.
The planning of secure routes extends beyond just transportation. Security teams also play a vital role in selecting suitable accommodations for the team. They often book accommodations with private entrances and exits, and on certain occasions, they may even reserve entire floors to establish a secure environment for the players. These strategic hotel bookings help maintain the players' safety without isolating them from their fans, thus fostering a positive relationship between the athletes and the public.
The meticulous planning and execution of travel routes and accommodations by security teams are essential to safeguarding the privacy and well-being of football players. While these measures may seem extreme, they are necessary to protect the athletes' best interests, especially considering their larger-than-life public profiles.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, football teams do travel by plane, especially for long-distance trips or when they need to travel quickly for crucial matches. Some teams have their own private jets, while others charter flights or use commercial airlines.
Private jets offer several advantages to football teams. They allow for customized flight schedules, provide privacy and security, and offer comfort and convenience, which are essential for player recovery and performance.
Yes, football teams typically travel together as a team, whether by plane or bus. Traveling together fosters team spirit, unity, and good chemistry among the players and staff. It also ensures everyone arrives at the same time and location, which is safer and more efficient.