The power naps and the glory! Kieran Trippier opens up about his secrets to success and what it’s like being one of the elder statesmen for England
No one could accuse 33-year-old Kieran Trippier of sleeping on the job.
He has missed just one game for Newcastle this season and has been one of England’s most important players, with another cap in North Macedonia on Sunday.
βI feel better now than I did in my late 20s,β he says, attributing his impressive stamina to early bedtimes and power naps.
The defender β only the third Englishman, after Sir Bobby Charlton and Gary Lineker, to score in a World Cup semi-final β says: ‘I had a good chat in the off-season with a man in America who was an expert on to sleep. patterns.
‘It’s about taking little naps during the day and making sure you don’t stagger into bed at midnight or 1am. You have to be reasonable and respectful so that your body can recover and sleep is key for me.
Kieran Trippier revealed that regular little naps and early bedtimes are the secrets to his success
Trippier played at left back for England in their 2β0 win over Malta in a Euro 2024 qualifying match
βI’ll probably be unconscious at 10:15 at night, to be honest. One power nap during the day. It’s been really helpful.β
He is also quick to praise his wife Charlotte and their three children for their understanding.
‘I’m very lucky. They are good and sometimes I can go to the guest room. The wife can bathe the kids and put them to bed, and I can go to sleep β easy living!’
Trippier, who made headlines last weekend after altercation with a Newcastle fan as they were beaten 2-0 at Bournemouth, has been important to the Gareth Southgate revolution because of his versatility and quality. He can switch seamlessly between right and left back, which is crucial with Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell currently injured.
A veteran of the last three English tournaments since 2018, he should be a voice of experience at the 2024 European Championships to guide the younger generation led by Jude Bellingham.
It was Southgate who first asked him to play on the left against Belgium in the third-place tie in the 2018 World Cup play-off.
Newcastle defender Trippier became embroiled in a row with a traveling supporter last week
Trippier took exception to one person’s comment after the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth
‘I didn’t need to be convinced. If you have the opportunity to play for your country, you will play anywhere. Since then I’ve played a lot of games there. It’s about self-confidence,” he says.
‘Luke and Chilly are quality left-backs. It’s not nice to see teammates get injured. I’m not going to hit balls with my left foot like that, but I’ll do my best. I’m excited about the way I’m playing this season.β
England is also enthusiastic. They reached the final of the last European Championship – defeated on penalties by Italy – and go to Germany as one of the favorites.
Trippier says English side Southgate’s reputation for having a club-like team spirit is no myth.
‘There are a lot of boys here who do things together outside of football. That’s the most important thing: the team is together,” he says. ‘I went to Ibiza with Jordan Pickford and Harry Maguire with our children. I went on holiday with Harry Kane and went for a walk [Kyle Walker].
‘On the pitch we have talent and goals in us. Other teams will look and think, βThey’re a problem.β’
Trippier has created more chances than anyone else in the Premier League this season and is second only to Wolves’ Pedro Neto in assists.
Trippier became only the third Englishman, after Sir Bobby Charlton and Gary Lineker, to score in a World Cup semi-final
The 33-year-old’s incredible free-kick against Croatia put England ahead at the 2018 World Cup in Russia
It is a surprise that his only England assist came for Shaw in the Euro 2020 final, although there is huge competition to grab set-pieces, even for a player dubbed the Bury Beckham.
Once considered the least important position on the pitch, today’s full-backs are superstars and England are full of good players.
‘The demands are so great. You have to move forward, overlap but ultimately also defend,β he says. ‘There is a big responsibility on full-backs. You look at Trent [Alexander-Arnold] at Liverpool, incoming. Stony [John Stones]one minute he’s playing right back, then he’s six, then he’s eight and then he’s just behind the striker.
‘It only feels like yesterday when I first walked into the England camp when Gaz [Gary] Cahill was here, Joe Hart and all the experienced players.
βFast forward to now, I’m one of the oldest. We have many leaders. You don’t have to be 33 to express your opinion.’
Trippier had to be withdrawn by Newcastle teammate Joelinton after appearing to react angrily to comments from a Toon fan in Bournemouth at the end of the match.
The player tried to defuse the situation afterwards, saying: ‘Of course the fans are emotional. They have come a long way. I was just talking to one of them. I said we’ll give it our all.’
When Trippier first joined, he played with former internationals Gary Cahill and Joe Hart
Trippier recently appeared in a special edition of The Great British Bake-off with Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson and Alexander-Arnold
Speaking of a traveling fan base: this European Championship will feel like a real summer tournament, with England being supported by tens of thousands of supporters for the first time since 2016. Trippier can’t wait to see the Three Lions at work in Germany. βFans were restricted by Covid and Qatar was so far β I know why fans couldn’t go,β he says.
‘In Germany all the fans will come back and the stadiums will be full. Our fans have a real opportunity to come out in numbers.
‘The relationship between the team and the supporters has improved enormously. All they want to see is exciting and entertaining football and we showed that. The support we have had has been incredible. It’s just taking the final step towards a trophy.’
Time for Trippier to put his head down and take a nap so he’s ready.