Cañizares reveals bizarre 'curse' behind his famous blonde hair dye
Former Spain keeper Santiago Cañizares opens up about his iconic blonde look and the strange coincidences that occurred when he changed it, plus thoughts on Real Madrid's coaching switch.
Former Spain and Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares has made a startling revelation about his iconic peroxide blonde hair, claiming the rare occasions he’s changed it have coincided with personal disasters.
The curse of the dye job
Cañizares, speaking on Radio MARCA’s ‘Despierta San Francisco’ show, explained that since first dyeing his hair in 2000, he’s only reverted to other styles twice – with unfortunate consequences each time.
“The first time I dyed it red is when I dropped the aftershave and couldn’t play in the World Cup,” Cañizares confessed, referring to the infamous 2002 incident where he severed a tendon in his foot after dropping a bottle of cologne, missing the tournament in Japan and South Korea.
The second occasion proved equally unlucky: “The second time, when I left it my natural colour, I suffered facial paralysis after returning from a rally in Ourense.”
Talk about bad luck! No wonder the geezer’s kept the blonde look all these years. Some footballers have lucky pants – Cañizares has his lucky barnet.
Alonso out, Arbeloa in at Real Madrid
The former keeper also weighed in on Real Madrid’s managerial situation after Xabi Alonso’s dismissal and Álvaro Arbeloa’s appointment:
- Cañizares believes Real underestimated physical preparation challenges following their Club World Cup participation
- He suggests Alonso lost the dressing room by not being firm enough with players
- On Arbeloa, he notes: “It’s difficult for things to go well because the squad composition isn’t balanced”
- He warned that Arbeloa’s Mourinho connections will continue to follow him
Cañizares offered some pearls for the new gaffer, suggesting he’d be wise to maintain good media relations “so victories are magnified and defeats aren’t.”
The ex-Valencia man reckons Arbeloa faces an uphill battle despite his close relationship with club president Florentino Pérez – a bond that will “vanish or strengthen depending on results.”
Seems like Arbeloa might want to consider going blonde himself – couldn’t hurt his chances, could it?