- England players and staff have been given a tracking device, the Oura Ring
- Gareth Southgate has been seen wearing the equipment on his left index finger
- LISTEN to It All Begins! Ian Ladyman, Chris Sutton and the Mail Sport team give their tournament predictions
A ‘revolutionary’ smart ring worn by Kim Kardashian is emerging as England’s secret weapon here at the 2024 European Championship.
Players and staff have been given an advanced tracking device called the Oura Ring to wear during their time here in Germany, with the technology claiming to monitor sleep, body temperature, stress and heart health.
Gareth Southgate is a strong believer in marginal gains and was open to introducing various development technologies during his eight-year reign as England head coach in his attempts to end the country’s 58-year wait for a major trophy.
And the fitness gem has become an addition to England’s arsenal as they prepare for Sunday’s opening European Championship match against Serbia.
Southgate himself wore the kit on his left index finger and was first spotted with the ring during England’s preparations for the tournament earlier this month.
A number of players have also used the ring while training here at their base in Weimar. During Wednesday’s sessions, Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi were among the players wearing the Oura rings.
Members of the UK support team have also been spotted carrying the equipment, from where data can be checked by staff.
The Football Association’s CEO, Mark Bullingham, would also wear the ring here in Germany.
Although some players have worn the rings during training at their base in Weimar, it seems unlikely that they would be allowed to wear them during matches.
Recovery data from the rigors of professional football training and matches has become an essential element for coaches and analysts as they leave no stone unturned in their quest to improve performance.
The ring is also popular with some of the most high-profile celebrities in the world.
In addition to Kardashian, Prince Harry, Gwenyth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston have all been pictured wearing the sophisticated tracker.
It is also endorsed by leading athletes, including NBA star Chris Paul and Olympic skier and three-time gold medalist Lindsey Vonn.
The company’s website also lists the U.S. military among their customer list.
The Oura website explains how the ring can improve performance: ‘Whether you lead a professional sports organization or train elite troops, ensure your team always performs at the highest level with accurate biometrics.
‘Use accurate, continuous data to prioritize rest, adjust training plans, monitor recovery and detect signs of illness, injury and fatigue.’
Oura rings cost up to £500, with the cheapest costing £277.
The company’s website also claims that users have experienced 87 percent better overall health, 88 percent better sleep quality, 74 percent improved stress management, and 71 percent improved work productivity.
The company’s website claims to have more than one million users around the world.
In 2023, speaking to Face magazine, England defender John Stones revealed that he is already an Oura Ring convert.
“The first thing I do when I get out of bed is look at my Oura ring to see how I slept – it’s addictive,” he revealed.
“It tells me how long it took me to fall asleep, how much REM (rapid eye movement) and deep sleep I had, how many times I woke up… it’s crazy.”
Similarly, the German national team was given Oura rings ahead of Qatar 2022 after a sleep researcher was appointed to provide advice on how to build optimal rest before and after matches.
Anna West, a Danish-born sleep expert, spoke to the German squad ahead of the tournament and recommended that each player be given a ring to wear so that support staff have a better understanding of their respective recovery.
Members of the England women’s team have also used the Oura rings.