Professional footballers sleep twice a day: the 20-minute nap before 3pm that sports doctors also recommend for amateurs

Professional football clubs routinely integrate a brief daytime nap into recovery plans, a habit sports doctors also recommend for amateur athletes. According to Manu Tournoux, elite players often sleep twice a day by taking an early-afternoon rest of around 20 minutes. This strategy sharpens concentration, aligns with the body's natural post-lunch dip, and avoids the grogginess associated with deeper sleep stages.

Sports medicine teams advise scheduling these naps before 3 p.m. to protect essential night-time sleep pressure. The article highlights that amateurs can adopt the routine using a quiet space or sofa without needing specialized facilities. However, the habit is intended to supplement adequate nocturnal rest rather than compensate for chronic sleep deprivation.