At home with Daniel Sturridge: "There are probably only two or three other countries that can really stop us lifting the trophy"

Vibe check. Which of the UK's many football talking heads captures social media's gaze the most often? Sure, many are fans of Roy Keane's “Grumpy Old Fella” shtick or the whimsy playfulness of Micah Richards, but none come close to the incomparable attire choices, comedic flair and genuine insight of Daniel Sturridge.

The former Liverpool and England striker made his name banging in goals and topping it off with a dance. However, he now finds himself regularly on broadcast panels discussing xG metrics and quoting Usher songs to the aforementioned "old grump” — and our Twitter feed can't get enough of it. From his loud and proud “Bagpuss” scarf to his much-memed “keep it funky with ya boy” attitude, it's not especially surprising fans connect with his personality online.

Ahead of the tournament, the ex-Three Lions player ventured on a trip down memory lane with three of his old colleagues, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson and Ben Chilwell, rewatching classic goals from yesteryear on a fancy new LG OLED TV, as part of his partnership. And while he might be turning to our neighbours across the pond this year for his commentary, given the current football fever Europe is experiencing during Euro 2024, British GQ thought it a perfect time to take a little trip home with Sturridge to catch up on everything he's expecting to see at the tournament.

How do you normally prep before appearing on TV? Do you pick out your own outfits?

I pretty much know in myself what I like to wear but I like creating an outfit that will work for the show I’m on. I’ll either go out to a store beforehand or look online, and I’ve now got a lot of stuff I already own that I’ve bought for previous shows that I’ve just not worn.

I’ll get the “thumbs up” from the family and then I’m good to go. I never normally work with a stylist and I like to be hands-on with it.

Do you have a skincare routine before you go on camera?

I use Dermologica face wash and a moisturiser serum that feels good on my skin, but a lot of the time I just work with the makeup artist and ask what’s needed. Is my face shiny or do I need something to brighten up my face? That sort of thing. I never really put makeup on.

What about fragrances? Any favourite smells you like?

I really like Montale Paris, they have a lot of vibes I like, but they have the Intense Cafe scent which is really nice.

Do you have a favourite brand you like to wear?

It depends on my mood. I’ve worn Prada before because it fits my personality and I have five or six brands in the back pocket I can pull out because I feel comfortable and it gives me confidence when I’m on screen.

Has your style changed since you were a young player coming through?

A young me dressed very differently from how I dress now, but I feel that fashion is just an expression and representation of who you are. I just go with how I feel and I don’t normally try to keep up with changing seasons or grab the latest thing. If I see something I like, I wear it.

What about at home? Do you wear your old kits about the house, doing the gardening?

You know what? I haven’t worn any old shirts. I know they are quite fashionable now and I see a lot of brands doing collaborations around football shirts and I enjoy that element of the fashion game, but no, I don’t wear any of my old kits or shirts.

Do you have a favourite kit from your career that means something special to you?

I know a lot of footballers have framed shirts they’ve collected after a game but I don’t normally do that. If I had to pick out one [Liverpool] kit I do really like, the white, purple and black shirt that might have been from the 2013/14 season would be the one.

What about England kits? Whenever I think of your Three Lions appearances, I imagine you wearing the long-sleeved red kit.

That’s the perfect encapsulation of my England career for me. The Euro kit is definitely the one I’d pick from my playing days. That kit is a vibe man. Classic. It’s one of those kits where you pull it on and you feel like you’re ready to go.

What do you think about England’s kit for Euro 2024?

I like that kit, but for me, I’m all about supporting the players. I know that feeling when you pull that shirt on and you feel proud, so regardless of what it looks like, the players know they have to go out and do a job and perform. I think they’ve added some sauce to this kit to jazz it up this time around and maybe that will be the touch of luck we need.

How do you feel about England’s chances?

I feel really confident about this group of players. I want them to build their confidence and come out and say they are going to win. We have as much opportunity as everyone else, and with some of the consistency some of the players have shown this year, I feel like we can do something. Especially with some of the younger players in the squad; it feels like we’re in the right place. There are probably only two or three other countries that can really stop us from lifting the trophy, so if it all goes to plan, I think we can go further this time.

We’ve had two successful tournaments recently, but the icing on the cake would be to lift the trophy at the end.

How will you be watching the tournament this year?

I’m travelling a lot for this tournament and working but I’m going to try and enjoy the games as a fan. I’ve got an LG TV that’s properly immersive at home, so when the crowd roars on my soundbar and the game starts you feel like you’re really there. I’ll grab my popcorn, got my feet up on the couch and I think, “Boy, life is good”.

You must have to travel a lot for work now, how do you keep up with your fitness goals?

For me, the most important thing is keeping on top of my sleep really. The hardest thing when travelling a lot is getting a good night’s sleep. I have an Oura tracker ring that I’ve used since 2018 when I was playing at Liverpool and it felt like I was gaining an edge because I knew what the quality of my sleep was like.

If I’m feeling good before I start lifting and training because I’ve slept well, I normally feel like I work harder.

Do you struggle to sleep while travelling? You must spend a lot of time in hotels.

I swear down, a white noise machine is my saving grace. I don’t know why but I need white noise or I can’t sleep. My machine sends me to a different place and I can’t explain it but it works for me.

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