UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Footballers born in the Year of the Monkey

Bad luck is associated with people born in the Year of the Monkey but it seems those who play football for a living are immune, from Ronaldinho to Neymar via Mario Götze.

Neymar, one of several stars born in the Year of the Monkey
Neymar, one of several stars born in the Year of the Monkey ©AFP/Getty Images

It is Chinese New Year, and the beginning of the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the zodiac cycle. So, which footballers were born in the Year of the Monkey and do they exhibit the personality traits associated with it?

We will leave it to you to judge whether or not the players fit the characteristics, but those listed certainly appear to avoid the bad luck associated with the animal.

Footballers born in the Year of the Monkey 
Neymar, Marc-André ter Stegen, Mario Götze, David Alaba, John Terry, Tomáš Rosický, John Guidetti, Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah, Stephan El Shaarawy, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Dirk Kuyt, Gabriel Milito, Ashley Cole, Dimitar Berbatov, Ronaldinho.

Personalities traits for Monkeys 
Positives: lively, quick-witted, curious, innovative, gentle, honest
Negatives: impetuousness, temper, selfishness, arrogance
Lucky numbers: 1, 7, 8
Lucky colours: white, gold, blue