Footballers Life Issue 10 by Footballers' Life

Footballers’ Life Magazine

Issue 10

€21.00 - £20.00

A d v i c e

L u x u r y

L i f e s t y l e

Game Game Time Time = Currency

Advice • Talk to the Players • Cars • Fashion • Gadgets • Watches & Jewellery • Property • Travel • Health

c o n t r i b u t o r s

Contributors Marcio Quintela

Adrian Kajumba

Chief Stylist - Louis Vuitton

Journalist

Daniel Geey

Fraser Reid

Partner Sheridan’s Lawyers

Partner - Couchmans LLP

Deborah Arthurs

Max Nilov

Lifestyle Director

Art Advisor

Daniel Johnson

Duncan Wright

Male Grooming Stylist

Journalist

Chris Paget

Alex Harvey

Sports Lawyer

Lewis Marsden Journalist

Ray James Head of Operations iSportsconnect

i n t r o d u c t i o n

Welcome to the 10th edition of Footballers Life Magazine.

Duncan Edward Pratt

Founder / Editor in chief

We hope you enjoy this edition, please send comments to duncan@footballerslife.com

As always, it gives me great pleasure to introduce another new edition of Footballers’ Life magazine to you. This one, albeit, is slightly more special with it being our 10th issue. Looking back we have provided some useful information to our professional readership as well as offering a detailed level of insight into the life of a footballer through the incorporation of some of the game’s most well-known stars. Looking to the future we want to continue offering industry leading insights and advice, and our latest edition has been compiled to suit this desire. Reading on, we cover the major benefits of British player’s heading abroad to showcase their worth – something which a number of players this season are justifying. Along with other areas of key advice we are also excited to present to you a new venture for Footballers’ Life as well as the hugely popular sub sections highlighting the latest in fashion, technology, cars and other luxury goods.

c o n t e n t s

Contents 14-19

Foreign Affairs E n g la n d ’ s bri g h t yo u n g h o p e s

30-33

Top Track 25 0

Footballers life F o otball e r s lif e C o n s u lta n c y

T e n E n g li s h Clu b s

24-25

P l ay e r C a re I n t h e p u r s u it o f e xc e ll e n c e

26-27

agents

N e w ru l e s for agents?

28-29

In fin it y Wealth b y D e s ign b o u ti q u e w e alt h a dv i s o ry fir m

40-43

M arko Arnautovic Ma k i n g a Mar ko

34-35

Trade M arks E n h a n c e Yo u r P e r s o n al B ra n d

44-47

M esut ö z il

T u r n T h e ot h e r c h e e k

64-65

52-55

Womens Champi on s League

Mat t Rit chie Q & A

Vi s a s i g n s d e al wit h UE FA

66-67

Ralph Hasenh u ttl N e w Sai n t s b o s s Ha s e n h u ttl

48-51

76-77

G errard an d Lampard

Zeclat

fir s t s t e p s i n to management

Ea d o n Gr e e n W h at i s “ Lu x u ry, r e d fi n e d ? ”

56-59

Jody C r a ddock D e f e n d e r o f t h e A rt

60-61

D av e Wr ight B ri g h to n & H ov e A lbi o n F. C

62-63

Jon a s He ctor l oy alt y to C o l o g n e

68-73

Otro

d i g ital fa n c lu b c r e at e d b y t h e wo rl d ’ s g r e at e s t f o otball e r s

78-81

AZ LU XE

A rri v e i n lu x u ry, d e part i n s t y l e

c o n t e n t s

82-85

THE LISTER M OTOR CO M PANY T HE L I S T E R L F T - 666 a n d L F P

103

88-89

How to Becom e a Football Age n t:

da n ie l John son

e x p e rt f o r s o m e o f t h e bi g g e s t n a m e s i n f o otball

The guide

90-91

Bu cke l & Se am

Mi d n i g h t B lu e c o ll e c ti o n

STM

M y t h c o ll e c ti o n

100-102

VINCENT KO M PANY J O I NS R E Z Z I L

104-105

Loewe

A d d s T h e k la n g m1 speaker

94-97

k ane mo usah ba d r

106-107

Jabra Elit e 65 t

116-119 Reservoir

W I T NESS O F T I ME A ND H I S TO RY

134-140 Berkeley Homes

120-123 Patek phil i pp e The new Twenty~4®

Lu x u ry p ro p e rti e s .

108-109 Bl u e

143

Done deal

Sa d i e

Da n i e l G e e y lift s t h e li d o n t h e i n n e r wo r k i n g s o f m o d e r n f o otball .

110-111

146-149

L at e n i g h t blu e c o ll e c ti o n

m ov e s i n to alu m i n i u m b u ilt y a c h t s i n part n e r s h i p wit h I c o n Ya c h t

Ba n g & Ol ufsen

Sunseeker

150-151 M aldives

W e s ti n Mal d i v e s Miria n d h o o R e s o rt

124-130 Sa l o n QP

152-155 Zela

B I Z A N R ES TAU R A N T

Saatc h i Gall e ry,

112

156-159

A ME R I C A N O R I G I N A L

c u i n a c atala n a

F EN D ER

tast

163-165 ozone

s to p t h e c l o c k

a d v i c e

Foreign Affairs How England's bright young hopes are blazing a trail abroad as they take responsibility for their own careers

ootball in England has never seen anything like it when it comes to the huge talent pool of young players starting to emerge from the Academy system ready to embark on senior careers. The upheaval in coaching standards implemented by the FA over a decade ago is starting to produce the results – with the national team across all age groups enjoying unprecedented success on the international stage. World and European titles have been secured, and suddenly the country is awash with bright prospects waiting for their chance to produce at senior level for their clubs. But that has brought into sharp focus another problem – just how do these highly-skilled, intelligent young footballers take the crucial next step along their development paths when they are seeing their routes to first team chances restricted, particularly in the Premier League?

a d v i c e

Ademola Lookman With money in the top flight so important to clubs, never have results been so important to managers as they are now. And the side effect of that has been a reliance on tried and tested players rather than unproven, and still developing prospects. The seemingly impossible route to regular senior football is the biggest threat to stopping young players fulfilling their full potential, depriving them of their most crucial period in their development. So a growing group of English talent is now taking responsibility themselves by leaving the comfort of home to move abroad in the search of game time and opportunities. Ademola Lookman was one of the first when he elected to spend a season in Germany with RB Leipzig rather than sit kicking his heels at Everton. Then Mason Mount flourished on a season on loan in Holland with Vitesse.

Mason Mount Now scores of bright hopes are looking overseas as the best chance they can have to establish lasting careers in the professional game, and the floodgates appear to be opening on more to follow. Jadon Sancho’s decision to leave Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund, along with the success Reiss Nelson is enjoying at Hoffenheim having escaped Arsenal on loan, is yet more proof of the opportunities on offer. German clubs in particular can see the light – at an England under-17 match against Brazil earlier this season, scouts from every Bundesliga club were in attendance targeting the best this country has to offer. They are far more willing to give youth a chance than in this country, and the players know it.

a d v i c e Sancho is now a senior England international, something that would have been highly unlikely had the 18-yearold signed the deal on offer at City instead of chancing his arm abroad. He said: “If English clubs are not giving you a chance then abroad is always an option. They’re always open to just seeing your ability and, hopefully, if you’re good enough then you get your chance. That’s how I felt. “That’s what the Bundesliga is about. They believe in you, they trust you and, even if you’re so young, they wouldn’t get you out here if they didn’t really believe in your ability. “I’m not saying English clubs don’t believe in your ability, I’m just saying I think they [Bundesliga clubs] look at it earlier than the English clubs will do.” Nelson, also 18, added: “Sanch started the trend, I’d say. I call him every day and he’s obviously saying we are kind of setting the trend for the young boys to come over. “I know a lot of the top [young] players in England as well and they’re always saying, ‘How is life in Germany, how is the Bundesliga?’ and I’m just saying, ‘It’s great’. “They believe in young players and that’s the main thing. Getting the belief behind you to play football. “It might not be so good for England if they [young players] all leave, but on a personal level, I think it will be great for young players to get playing time and show everyone what they can do. “Arsenal are my boyhood club. I’ve been with them since I was eight, so that’s 10 years. “I just want to go back there stronger because at the time I was at Arsenal I was 16, 17 and I didn’t feel confident. “I didn’t think I was a man, but now I’m feeling stronger and I think a couple more months or even a year in Hoffenheim will make me strong and give me the belief and confidence to go back to Arsenal and do very good there. “I want to be an Arsenal legend. And, for England, it’s the best. You can’t beat playing for your country I don’t think.”

Jadon Sancho

Reiss Nelson Sancho has zero regrets about snubbing the lucrative deal on the table at City in favour of a permanent move to Dortmund, convinced it has stopped his development from stalling. He said: “I just felt I was ready for the next step and I felt Borussia Dortmund was a great club to move to and develop my career. “It’s taking my game to a different level, only because I’m playing and getting the chance to show the world what I can do on the pitch.” Their success is one of the reasons why German sides are now looking extensively at the younger age groups in England, says RB Leipzig’s Sporting Director Paul Mitchell. Leipzig snapped up the Englishman from Tottenham last year, and the Manchesterborn talent spotter is now developing an excellent reputation on the continent. He said: “It’s hard to be honest, you look at the severe pressure the Premier League coaches are under, especially at the top. “England are coming into a rich vein of talent from winning the World Cup at Under-17 level to the senior side (World Cup semi-final).

“We have to be reflective that we have a lot of good players in England and they need to play to get those capable minutes between the ages 17 and 21. “England have a great environment, coaching system and understanding of talent to give these guys a real platform to go on and be successful. “Our managers in the Premier League don’t get time - so how are we ever going to get to a point where these players are allowed to learn on the job or make mistakes? “The British market is high on everyone’s agenda in Europe and not just Red Bull’s or just Germany. “I think there has been a change in the market from a few years ago about English people and players that they don’t travel - I wanted to prove that was the wrong perception. “Young guys that are moving to Europe are showing that is wrong as well, they are performing to a very advanced level and I think the world has become a smaller place, now the first questions on a young guys mind is have I got the opportunity to play first-team football? “And then everything cascades from that and if the answer is yes then we have the chance to have conversations with highly talented individuals and offer ourselves as an extremely good destination for that talent.”

fo o t b a l l e r s

l i fe

c o n s u l t a n cy

Footballers life C o n s u lt a n c y

ootballer’s Life is launching a new venture helping to secure players moves to clubs across Europe built on its extensive network of contacts throughout the game.

A series of transfers are already in place for the mid-season window in January, with clubs approaching Footballer’s Life for help finding suitable players for further deals over the coming months.

Founder Duncan Pratt, a former professional player in England and Holland himself, is evolving the concept to help continue to deliver opportunities and advice for footballers on and off the pitch.

Acting as an intermediary, we are now in a position to facilitate domestic and overseas transfers acting with the thorough and professional values at the core of the business.

Utilising a deep network of senior figures in the professional game across Europe the company is already at work scouting and recruiting for clubs in England, Holland and Germany. Chairmen, technical directors and heads of recruitment at sides throughout the continent – from elite level to lower leagues - have begun working with Duncan to create a new avenue and pathway for talent acquisition.

Trust and honesty is central to the needs of any player in the game, and it is as a result of delivering on that over three decades of relationship building in the game that decision makers, senior figures and directors are now looking to work with Duncan and the Footballer’s Life group. With other branches of the operation continuing to come on stream, the group is also able to introduce players to elite luxury brands and build on-going relationships for professionals to maximise their career and lifestyle pathways.

a d v i c e

ay e r c a r e

ign

Infi

a lt h b y

for a g

les

rack 25 pT 0

ade

mar

a d v i c e

Player Care I

n the pursuit of excellence, football club are always striving to find ways to squeeze out new ways to ensure players are conditioned in the best way possible to perform. Whether it is tailored training schedules, diets or using the latest technological advances to work of tactics, few stones are being left unturned in order to gain an advantage. And increasingly, making life easy for the players off the pitch is becoming a familiar part of the wider structure being point in place to provide the best working environment to produce the goods on matchday. Put simply – the fewer stresses and problems in life, the better it is you are thought to perform.

West Ham are one club who have spotted an opportunity to develop this side of the game, raiding Premier League rivals Southampton to appoint Hugo Scheckter as their Head of Player Care. Scheckter had been an integral part of life for the squad down at St Mary’s, and a year into his new role at the London Stadium he is beginning to make his mark in East London. After summer in which the Hammers invested heavily overhauling the squad, Scheckter has been working overtime to ensure all the new arrivals especially are settling in well.

Hugo Scheckter

He believes his job is vital to ensuring the smooth transition of all those who have arrived – seven players and a further nine when you include the coaching and management team. Scheckter said: “I believe that player care is the new wave of difference-making in football. “In the ‘90s it was medicine, more recently it’s been video analysis, and I think player care is the next area where clubs can really get an advantage over each other. “By having players who are set up properly and looked after, it means they can focus on nothing but football as soon as possible after they walk through the door.” “We’re trying to make sure that everything is not just taken care of, but taken care of in the right way. “It’s our ambition to have one of the best player care departments in the next two years.” The last few months have been hectic for Scheckter and the team, with two assistants appointed to help build the new department around the club. He added: “That is more than I’ve ever dealt with, I’m more used to about five or six.

Photo credit: West Ham United

“We try and sort the six main things: the house, the car, the bank account,

the family, the phone and languages. Once we’ve got those basic things, everything else falls into place. “Player care sometimes gets seen as like running a concierge or nanny service. “But if you or I moved to a foreign country aged 20, we wouldn’t know what to do because we haven’t grown up in that environment. “When someone comes here, we need to make sure that everything’s explained. “Someone like Fabian Balbuena, for example, has never lived outside of South America. “There’s so much different stuff that they have to get used to, it’s about trying to work out the gaps in their knowledge. “Whether it’s council tax – we’re the only country in the modern world that has a council tax-style system – or even knowing you need to stop at a zebra crossing. “A lot of the time, we’re just translating English into English, when people speak with an accent or use flowery language, so they’re not confused and know what they’re signing up to. “We’re there to protect them, as well, because there are a lot of people who see these players as a potential money source.”

a d v i c e

New rules for agents?

he Premier League are pushing for a series of strict new rules to prevent clubs paying agents in an attempt to end the gravy train of money leaving football. Clubs want to put an end to the system of dual representation which sees an agent charge the clubs and players for brokering a transfer on their client's behalf. Bosses are now insisting only players should have to pay agents under a range of new measures aimed at cutting down the power and influence intermediaries now wield on the game.

If successful, it will dramatically change the way the majority of transfers are structured, and lead to players having to foot an increasing bill both to their representatives and to the tax man. The move comes at a time when HM Revenue and Customs are looking closely at the way dual representation deals are structured because it means less tax is paid on a deal. In basic terms, when an agent works on behalf of the buying club and the player, it means the client has less to pay his representative and a far smaller tax liability. The HMRC are looking closely into the arrangements, believing the way deals are structured currently could be used as a cover to avoid bigger payments to the public purse. They are looking to put in place an ability to demand to see evidence of what work the agent has done for both sides, to check the money being paid is correctly charged. Last year Premier League clubs forked out £211million in agent fees - and across the 541 transactions registered at least 426 involved dual representation. At least one deal saw triple representation - where the agent acts on behalf of the buying club, selling club and the player. That was the situation two years ago when Manchester United paid £98m to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus and agent Mino Raiola received £41m for his work.

League bosses also want to insist on players paying fees to agents over the course of their contracts, rather than as a lump sum as soon as any deal is completed. That is aimed at preventing rogue representatives looking at earning another pay day by agitating for their players to make a move a year or two into their contracts. The Premier League today are hoping to ratify a series of new measures, including demanding all agents working in England to have passed an exam. They want any agent working with English-based players to hold a UK bank account, with all transactions with clubs in this country using that facility. And they are also demanding the business arrangements of agents to be more transparent - with the need to provide a financial statement yearly to the FA. The league are not able to go it alone with their stance, however. They would need the FA on side in order to incorporate the regulations into their rulebooks. FIFA also have their own regulations, although it is believed England would be free to have their own rules so long as they broadly fit into the wider framework of the international game. An FA spokeswoman said: “The FA is talking to both the Premier League and Fifa and that will determine our future direction of travel.”

a d v i c e

Infinity Wealth by Design

I 28

nfinity Wealth by Design is the boutique wealth advisory firm based in the heart of Mayfair. The boutique operates similarly to a private members club and provides clients with the bespoke offering of access to a high end and personable wealth management experience. With extensive experience in the Financial services, CEO Elisabeth Dana and her team are capitalising on their skills and networks. Furthermore, the will to offer clients what they need in light of their circumstances is the central value,

contrary to what an organisation wishes to push as a commercial agenda which is the reality in most existing wealth management outfits in their experience. Infinity defines new wealth management by enriching clients’ life, not just their bottom line. From sourcing financing for homes, boats and art, to smart guidance in alternative investments and emerging asset classes such as blockchain and crypto. Clients are of those of an entrepreneurial spirit, with a likeminded outlook on the global 21st century.

www.infinitywealth.world Infinity has also manoeuvred into the Fintech space through the build of the Infinity Circle. The Infinity Circle is a unique digital and real-world platform that brings together investors and game changers. The platform is a brand new, invitation only, vibrant eco-system for HNWIs and their families, which is truly transactional and not just a networking tool. The Circle allows users to share and be exposed to off-market business, investment and lifestyle opportunities. The Infinity Circle is an extension to the ultra-secure private client portal and gives private clients, and the wider community, direct access to deals. As an FCA regulated entity, Infinity is proud to connect a private network of peers and players who have all been vetted, from an FCA perspective. Infinity is currently in the pre-launch stage of the Circle, which goes live in Q1 2019.

Infinity maintains a fresh stance within the wealth management market by offering alternative projects. Currently their focus is to structure the co-ownership of luxury. Clients who participate in buying the jet will benefit from an efficient and bespoke access to an Embraer Legacy and its crew without the operating burden. Infinity intend to apply the same model to a yacht and art work. This project compliments Infinity’s ethos of quality, innovation and independence. Whether in the UK or abroad and across different types of investments, Infinity guides its clients through the pitfalls of the wealth management industry and advises on how to optimise their assets.

a d v i c e

en English football clubs feature in the latest Top Track 250 list, up from three last year. Eight of the ten are from the Premier League, the game’s elite division. West Bromwich Albion were relegated from the division last season after eight seasons and Middlesbrough, owned by Top Track 250 company Bulkhaul, were relegated in 2017. These clubs feature in the list because they have revenues or operating profit growth in excess of 5% and operating margins exceeding 2%. Football is now firmly established as a sector in the Top Track list, underlining the commercial success of the Premier

League and the consolidation of what has always been a high-profile sport as a viable business proposition. But there is an interesting twist to the tale. The commercial success of these ten individual private companies is largely due to the collective broadcast rights deal negotiated by the Premier League. In the 2016-2017 season all 20 Premier League clubs set a revenue record due to a three-year domestic broadcast rights deal with Sky and BT Sport worth £5.1 billion over three seasons. An international rights deal worth another £3 billion over the same period added to the pot.

Each of the 20 Premier League clubs at the time got around £80.4 million from domestic and international TV income and central commercial sponsorship. In addition, each club gets a sum of £1,931,268 per place in the table. So Arsenal, the top-placed club in our list at No 37 got £28,969,20, while Watford, the lowest-placed of the ten at No 249 received £13,518,876.

The full list of ten is: Arsenal

chelsea

Middlesbrough

sales £417 million sales growth 19% operating profit £122.2m

sales £361.3 million sales growth 10% operating profit £35.1m

sales £314.5 million sales growth 56% operating profit £37.8m

T o tt e n h a m

west ham

Everton

sales £3o6.3 million sales growth 46% operating profit £84.8m

sales £183.3 million sales growth 29% operating profit £56.8m

sales £171.3 million sales growth 41% operating profit £25m

C r y s ta l P a l a c e

West Brom

Wat f o r d

sales £143.7 million sales growth 41% operating profit £10.7m

sales £137.9 million sales growth 40% operating profit £26.7m

sales £136.5 million sales growth 55% operating profit £16.1m

Bournemouth sales £123.9 million sales growth 31% operating profit £13.7m

AFC Bournemouth, despite having the smallest ground in the Premier League, with a capacity of 11,360, saw turnover increase 55% to £136.5 million in 2017, while profits climbed 222%, taking it to No 232 in our list.

a d v i c e

Everton Merseyside-based Everton are the fifth fastest-growing club on our list, coming in at No 168. Founder members of the Football League in 1888, Everton hold the record for most seasons spent in the game’s top division and have been ever present since the Premier League was formed in 1992. Despite this, the club has existed in the shadow of neighbours Liverpool FC, one of two truly established global brands in English football, alongside Manchester United. Everton’s 41% rise in turnover and fivefold increase in profits indicates it means business.

Wat f o r d At Watford, broadcasting money boosted revenues 31% to £123.9 million in 2017, when the club finished one place above relegation. Watford have played in the top flight since 2014.

The business of sport has changed in recent years - creating new opportunities as well as new threats. In this environment, sporting organisations are now exposed to decisions that are more complex, more commercial, more multidisciplinary and more high-profile than ever before. With that said, very few organisations put enough emphasis in improving their corporate governance structures.

The purpose of good governance is to facilitate effective, entrepreneurial and prudent management that can deliver the long-term success of an organisation.

The approach is tiered but it does apply to organisations regardless of size and sector, with a proportionate level of governance required based on funding. The code prioritises:

This is supported by findings from our recent Planning for growth1 research where we surveyed 1000 high growth businesses and found that 24% of these organisations include governance within their top five investment priorities.

increased skills and diversity in decision-making, with a target of at least 30% gender diversity on boards.

It is therefore clear that sporting organisations need to begin thinking more strategically about improving their governance structures to improve and safeguard the value they’ve created over the years. This need for a new approach is evident with Sports England’s introduction of a Sports Governance Code2. The code introduced in April 2017 requires levels of transparency, accountability and financial integrity for any sports organisations looking for government and National Lottery funding.

greater transparency, for example publishing more information on the structure, strategy and financial position of the organisation. constitutional arrangements that give boards the prime role in decision-making. In the corporate world, good governance has been shown to improve organisational performance, reduce risks, and secure more sustainable growth. There are valuable lessons here for those running clubs in the highly commercial environment football clubs now operate in. For more information, or to discuss in more detail, please contact Tom Moon.

Fast Track has researched the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 for the last 14 years to shine a spotlight on Britain’s leading private companies operating in what is known as the “mid-market”. Each year Fast Track assesses each company on its growth in sales and profits and ranks those that qualify, with the sales of the company at the top of the league table starting below our Top Track 100 ranking of Britain’s largest private companies.

a d v i c e

Using Trade Marks to Enhance Your Personal Brand By Chris Paget & Alex Harvey Footballers’ commercial value has never been higher, and social media has been one of the key contributing factors for this. Social media has, without doubt, provided players with the ideal platform to reach global audiences, grow their personal brand and allow brands and fans alike the opportunity to get to know a player’s personality away from their on pitch persona. As such, it is more important than ever for footballers to realise the value of their image and take the necessary steps to grow, protect and commercialise their personal brand. One way of achieving this is through registering trade marks and this article will provide some “top tips” on what they are and how they can be used.

What is a Trade Mark?

A trade mark is essentially a “sign” that is used to differentiate one person’s goods from those of others. They are used to communicate information about the product or service to which they are applied and they provide consumers with reassurance as to the origin of the product. Think, for example, of the Nike swoosh or the Adidas stripes which you can immediately associate with those brands and their associated qualities.

What rights does it give you? Registering a trade mark gives the owner the exclusive right to use the mark in connection with the goods or services for which it is registered. To give an example, if you register your name as a trade mark in the clothing industry, you are the only person who can sell clothing with your name on it. Naturally, this prevents others from doing so and gives you the chance to control and grow your brand in the way that you want.

What can you register? You can register a wide variety of marks, including names, nicknames, signatures, slogans, logos, designs, colours and even gestures. The more distinctive the trade mark the more likely it is to be registrable and also the stronger trade mark protection you will have once it is registered. It is therefore important to identify the key aspect of your brand identity and seek to protect it. Many footballers are taking a creative approach and are registering trade marks in not only their names, but their nicknames, goal celebrations and even their free-kick technique. Here is a selection of some well-known examples:

Selecting your Goods and Services Trade Marks are registered in respect of goods and services divided into groups called “classes”. A carefully and strategically drafted specification will be important for both brand protection and brand exploitation and this is where we as lawyers can be of particular use.

Selecting Territories

Exploiting your Trade Mark

Trade marks are territorial in nature so you should apply to register your trade mark in your key territories of interest - this may be where you are currently playing or where you have an interest in playing in the future. There may be other considerations, too, such as the nation hosting the next World Cup or European Championship. If you have a number of territories of interest, we can advise on a trade mark filing strategy that will meet your brand protection needs.

Once your trade mark portfolio is in place you can start to benefit financially from a vast array of commercial revenue streams, including licensing deals, collaboration deals and merchandise sales. Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, has started up his own clothing line using the CR7 trade mark and signed up to a joint venture with the Portuguese hotel group, Pestana, for a new brand of “Pestana CR7” hotels. A more typical way of exploiting a footballer’s trade mark would be to do a collaboration boot deal whereby you put your trade mark on a football boot and take a cut of the sales revenues in return.

To discuss how you may benefit from registering a trade mark, please

Preserving the Value

feel free to contact Chris and Alex using the below:

Once registered, it is important to monitor any third party use of an identical or similar mark; this may take the form of counterfeit goods or a brand trying to rip you off. Any unauthorised use may infringe your trade mark rights, which in turn affects the value of your brand. You should therefore identify a strategy which deals with infringers and takes into account the risk they pose to your brand. You should also be aware that trade marks in the UK are only protected for an initial 10 year period and they therefore need to be continually renewed to maintain their value.

Chris Paget

Alex Harvey

Twitter: @Talent_Lawyer Skype: paget_c_2 Email: cpaget@sheridans.co.uk

Twitter: @Alex_Harvey9 Email: aharvey@sheridans.co.uk

fo o t b a l l e r s

l i fe

Get Online

Advice & Luxury Lifestyle www.footballerslife.com

+footballerslife

footballerslife

footballerslifemagazine

footballerslife

E-mail duncan@footballerslife.com in strictest confidence

@footballerslife

t ritch

Craddo

Talk to the Players ot ro

e wrigh t

s hect

r s

ampion

s le

hasenhu

Wom

rd & L amp a

ARNAUT

t oz

p l aye r s

O RK

esu

t h e

t o

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

Making a

Marko 40

West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic’s personal plea to youngsters tempted to take the wrong path in life

MARKO ARNAUTOVIC has seen the perils that befall hopeful young footballers first hand – which is why the recent spate of knife crime in Britain has caused him to step up and offer guidance. Arnautovic may now be one of the stars of the Premier League as he captains the new era at West Ham, but the dangers of falling off the tracks as a teenager is still a topic close to his heart. The 29-year-old grew up in a tough neighbourhood in Vienna, tight with a group of friends who were finding their own ways into adulthood.

t a l k

For him, came riches as a result of his talents on the ball, for others came disappointment of not making the grade and even prison. It is why he is using the Players’ Project community scheme established by West Ham to reach out to youngsters in the local areas around the club to help guide others away from trouble and into fulfilling their potential as people. Arnautovic said: “When I was little, I didn’t always have the best time. I respected my family. My mother and father always looked after me well. “But I was the kind of kid who was not listening a lot so for me it was school, after school it was training and after training straight in the park and the cage, playing street football in there with my boys and staying out late.

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

“It was never the case for me to go out to drink, to meet some people to stay out until 3 or 4am. For me it was always football. For those kids who love this sport and one day want to be like we are, just have fun, listen to your parents. Just following the road. “It is not easy because all the kids want to be professional football players, it is not easy sometimes. It can be that you are very talented but you don’t have it. Maybe you are not mentally strong or you have some injuries. It is all coming together. “I had a lot of friends who were also football players. Some of them ended up in prison. Some of them couldn’t play any more because they had injuries. “I think of my group of friends, I am the only one who is a professional footballer. I am still with them. I still respect them because they are also part of my life.

“They are out now. They have families and jobs. It is not the time to talk about what they did. It was not a good thing. “But it could have been me. It can happen to everyone. Like now, when you see the social media. That has changed a lot of things. “People look at Instagram and say they want money, they want this, they want that. Then they start selling drugs and selling this and that. “It shouldn’t be the target to sell drugs and to go the bad way. “I think they take this way because it is easy. But you get hard punishment. You are playing with your life. “Back in the day when I was young, when you had some problems you dealt with it with your hands. No-one had a knife. “Now it has changed. I think there are a lot of mafia movies that show that maybe you are a tough guy when you put something in your pocket.

“If one of those friends tries to change, talk to him. If he still tries to change, go away from him. It is not the right thing to go through the bad way.” Arnautovic is putting his words into practice, using West Ham’s £3million Players’ Project initiative to work with youngsters in East London trying to help them make the right decisions in life. Every member of the Hammers squad have chosen schemes in the community close to their hearts, from working with youngsters to providing company to lonely elderly people. The Austrian added: “I think they have put me in the right group because I think I am an example of this. When I was little, I didn’t always have the best time. “When I see those kids out there, how they play, how they train, how they look up to us it makes me feel happy. “I just want to give advice to everyone to go the right way. It is important for me.”

“But it is very dangerous. I just give advice to stay away from that, stay with your friends who are close to you.

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

M Turn the other cheek

Mesut Ozil on ignoring the critics and finding his peace on the pitch

Few Premier League stars have divided opinion in recent years more than Mesut Ozil.

On one hand, a mercurial talent, a rare player with the ability to unlock even the tightest opposition defences, someone who has produced on the very biggest of stages.

Yet on the other hand, a footballer who has been singled out for particularly scathing criticism at club and international level for supposedly lacking any hunger and commitment, and being underserving of his stellar wages.

Everyone in the game knows you cannot please everyone all of the time, and has to learn to deal with criticism no matter how harsh it may sometimes be. Ozil’s treatment has been severe, even by the normal standards, yet the 30-year-old is still expected to ignore all the sniping and produce the goods for Arsenal in a position where playing with freedom is vital to his impact on a game. So just how does former Germany international manage to separate himself from the circus that has followed him off the field? “Look, I know there's people out there that like me, there are also people who don't like me,' he says. “This is a fact of life. But, for me, what is important is what the people in my inner circle tell me. “I don’t care what people say outside of that. It doesn’t affect me. “If the coach, or people in my circle, tell me: ‘Mesut you have to do this, or have to do that’ then I listen. I’ll take that and work on it. “But I don’t look at what someone else is saying. It really doesn’t affect me.” For whatever reason throughout a career which has seen him play in three of Europe’s biggest leagues, Ozil appears to have become a scapegoat when things haven’t gone well for his sides.

t a l k

t h e

p l aye r s

His time at Real Madrid brought a La Liga title, but also criticism over his impact during a tumultuous period of conflict within the club. At Arsenal, that has been accelerated as much by a lack of understanding of his languid style and perhaps jealousy over his latest multi-million pounds contract. And worse of all, at international level despite being a celebrated World Cup winner it was he who bore the brunt of Germany’s failings at Russia 2018 – largely based on his Turkish roots rather than any reasoned analysis of why the country flopped. “I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose,” said Ozil as he cited what he perceived as discrimination behind his decision to quit playing for his country.

Ozil’s ability to shrug off the critics perhaps comes from the lessons he learned as a child growing up in a multi-cultured area of the industrial German city Gelnsenkirchen. For him, football was his escape from the harsh divisions of real life.

“The neighbourhood I grew up in was one where lots of foreigners had settled. Not just Turks but people from all over: Lebanese, Middle Eastern, African, a real mixture.

t o

“It maybe wasn’t the nicest neighbourhood or the prettiest but I had so many friends living nearby, friends from all those different backgrounds, and that meant I loved my childhood there. “Some families in my neighbourhood occasionally went through difficult times and football was the answer for us kids. It was an escape for us. “You loved playing because it meant you had no problems. You would stand on the pitch and football would be the only thing. “It didn’t matter if you were rich or poor or if you were German or Turkish. Football united us and we’d always be in such a good mood afterwards.” There were challenges aplenty for Ozil as a child, growing in a family struggling against poverty. And away from the glare of publicity, he has quietly donated much time and money towards helping out those in similar situations. He paid for 23 youngsters in Brazil to have medical operations having won the World Cup in the country in 2014, and has also linked up with the Asian Football Development Project to visit a refugee camp in Jordan. Those experiences appear to have had a lasting impact and allowed Ozil the freedom to separate himself from the critics. Deep down, to him, football is still just the game he used to play with his friends in a cage for hours on end. He added: ‘I went to the refugee camp in Zatari (Jordan) to see the kids to see if I can give them a great moment, that was one of the biggest experiences that touched me, it changed me. ‘I love football, football is my passion — that’s why I’m playing. My hobby became my profession and I love being out on the pitch. ‘But I know there’s a life outside the pitch. When I go home, or after a game then I’m in a normal life, if I can give something back then I will do.’

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

Gerrard and Lampard

H 48

AVING spent the majority of their playing careers compared with one another, two of the biggest stars of the Premier League era now taking their first steps into management at the same time. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard spent the best part of two decades inextricably linked. Fierce competitors, huge club rivals and international teammates.

The debate over who was better, or whether they could ever play properly together for England, were topics which dominated column inches and hundreds of hours of TV or radio shows. Both took a year out after retirement to link up as pundits on BT Sport. So it was perhaps obvious they would then begin their careers in the dugout at the same time. And you can be sure how they perform will be matched up against each other.

In reality, the comparisons are the last things on the mind of Lampard and Gerrard as they bid to take all they have learnt at the very highest level of the game as players and channel those experiences into becoming successful managers. Gerrard may have opted to start out in the less demanding Scottish Premiership, but he has gone in at the deep end by taking charge of the giant club that is Rangers. Lampard has chosen to test himself in the Championship at Derby, a club where expectations of promotion to the top flight are high. Neither is taking the soft option, but taking the easy route has never been a mantra these two have ever chosen. “I don’t mind being under pressure,” Gerrard said. “I played under pressure and I have lived under pressure since I left school. Since I have stopped playing I have missed the pressure of going out and fighting for three points on the weekend. “Pressure isn’t a bad thing. If you’re working under pressure then you’re in a good place. I know there will be a lot of scrutiny and a lot of pressure but that’s what I love about being involved in football. “I’m here for a reason: to front the challenge and take the club forward. I’m confident or I wouldn’t be in this seat. In terms of targets I just want to win. That’s what I love doing, that’s my buzz. That’s the demand here and I’m looking forward to it. “I love a challenge. My parents brought me up in life to front up to a challenge if you feel it’s the right one. That’s what I’m here to do.”

t a l k

Lampard is just as resolute. He said”After a big debate about ex-players getting jobs - the 21 years you play, similar to Steven Gerrard we both had long careers, do give you a certain standing and I don’t dispute that - at the same time we’ve worked very hard to be in a position to be offered these jobs. “I am under no illusions; I know I will be judged on results, style of play. But going into it there is a lot to work with, and hopefully I can make a difference with how I approach it, not just myself but my staff, and how we get to where we want to be.” So how did a midfielder who became Chelsea’s record goalscorer, a serial winner, come to decide management was for him and that Derby was the perfect place to start out on the second phase of his footballing career?

t o

“I didn’t just wake up one day and realise, it was something I’d been interested in during my playing days,” he says. “Football has always been in my life, I grew up into a footballing family and had a long career. “Probably during my 20s I wasn’t too focused on what might happen afterwards, but into my 30s I certainly viewed things with a different eye. I tried to take in as much as I could under the managers I played under and the teammates I played aside. When this opportunity came along, it was one I had to say yes to. “It was sold to me, and it wasn’t a hard sell because of the size of the club. I know the size of the stadium, the training facilities and infrastructure that has been set up here.

t h e

p l aye r s

“I know that it has been 10 years outside of the Premier League, but when I actually first drove to Derby I was struck by the passion and intensity of the fan-base in this city, what it means to every fan here. It all added up. I took advice from everywhere that I could have done and it was a very quick answer for me. “The important thing then is to be your own person. Rather than being a copy of any certain manager, I’ve tried to make my own personality, my own style of management, whilst drawing on those pieces. “I will never stop learning, I go into it with certain ideas, I will try to improve and listen, take things in, but over my years of playing I have hopefully taken in a lot of information I can now use.” Gerrard knows Rangers have been living in the shadow of Glasgow rivals Celtic for too long, and given the gap in quality of the two squads last season it is going to be a stretch to bring instant success to Ibrox. There were some who questioned whether he was right man for such a

big job, having had no management experience behind him. But you sense those sceptics are only a source of more determination to succeed. He said: “When the call came to speak to Rangers, it was a no-brainer. It was a different feeling in my stomach from other opportunities I have had to be a manager. “I got a special feeling and I knew then that Rangers was for me. I have confidence I can deliver here as a manager. A huge opportunity presented itself. I was very aware of the size of club having watched from afar for many years. “Experience is not an issue for me – it seems to be for other people. I can’t control that but I respect everyone’s opinion. I’ve been around a big football club for a long time. I have been around big matches, I have watched big managers perform. “There is only one way to go and get experience, that’s by believing in yourself and taking a challenge headon. You have to believe in yourself.”

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

Matt Ritchie

Q &A 1

Wh at ’s i t l i ke to rep res e n t your nat io nal si de? To represent Scotland was an honour of course to play international football for any player is a dream. To be given that opportunity to play on the biggest stage was great!

When you we re a youn g pl ay er did you ever thi n k you wou ld b e an establ i shed Pr emi e r Le agu e star pl ayi n g f or such a bi g club l i ke Newcastl e Utd? Growing up I always believed in myself and my ability, like any player some people told me I was good enough and some told me I wasn’t but deep down I always knew I had to make the best of the tools I had and make sure I fulfilled any potential I had. I had set backs and disappointments but I used them as positives and they always gave me more desire to achieve my goals.

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

Describe wh at i t was l i ke as a yo ung p layer com i n g through th e ra nks at Portsmouth d u ring t h e h uge fi n an ci al turmo il t h at was goi n g on ? Coming through at Pompey for a Portsmouth boy was great! I loved every minute of it. To come through the youth system and to be pals with the same lads for so many years it was brilliant! To this day my scholarship years were the best years of my life, so enjoyable. Striving for a career with your mates all together wanting the same thing. Messing about at the training ground, head tennis, table tennis, rumbles with big Kev. They were enjoyable times.

5 54

W h at h as been your career h ig h t o date? The best moments in my career so far was probably as a whole being promoted with AFC Bournemouth to the Premier League. The way we played throughout that season, total football! Everyone involved at the club had so much belief and passion for what we were trying to achieve. It was a special place at a special time and a season I’ll never forget.

29 is st ill a youn g age but have yo u made any pl an s f or on ce yo u’v e h ung your boots up? Yes I’ve just turned 29 but I feel I’m certainly still in my prime and have a lot to give. I feel I now make better decisions with my experience. Looking to the future I have always from a young age tried to plan ahead knowing football won’t last forever. I have been purchasing buy-to-let property and it’s something I’m really interested in so hopefully when I do stop playing, if I decide to come away from the game I’ll be able to proceed in that field. Although I feel at the moment I want to become a manager.

Who i s the b es t pl aye r you’ ve ever pl ayed agai n st? The best player I would have to say Kevin de Bruyne. He has been the best player in the Premier League for the last 2 years without question.

If yo u had to pi ck on e son g to p lay in t h e dre ssi n g room bef ore a game what woul d i t be?

Wh at ad vi ce woul d you gi ve to any yo u n g pl ayer looki n g to break i n to the fi rst te am?

Dressing room music if not my bag, I leave that to someone else. If I had my way we’d have Jimmy Nail or Lighthouse Family on.

For young players it’s always been tough to break into first teams and even more so now as the amount of money and business that’s involved in football is only going one way. For this reason it makes it harder for managers to take chances. My advice to a young player would be stay patient and believe in you ability, if that means you have to take a step backwards to prove yourself to get a chance at a higher level then that maybe the way.

Descri be what the ri val ry is li ke between Ne wcastl e and Sun de rl an d The rivalry is massive, in my time I’ve not actually had the pleasure of playing in a derby but from being in the city and around Geordies a lot and one day I’d love to be involved in one.

Photo credit: Premier League

Defender of the Art t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

Why Jody Craddock turned away from a career in coaching to starting at the bottom again - in the competitive world of art

aking the grade as a professional footballer is a journey of starting at the bottom and working your way up, convincing others and proving yourself better than the rest. It is a path once trodden few are keen to take again at the end of their careers – but not so Jody Craddock. Over a 20-year career, half of which was spent in the Premier League, Craddock carved out a reputation as total professional who had worked tirelessly to make the most of his talents to perform at the highest level.

The ideal character, then, to embark on a career in coaching – a pathway he had been working towards having started to take his badges during his mid-twenties. But when push came to shove at the end of his career, Craddock decided against the logical choice in favour of giving into to the growing passion in his life, painting. In doing so, the former defender threw himself back in time by having to start from the bottom all over again, this time trying to carve out a name as an artist in an industry as fiercely difficult to thrive as football. Craddock said: “When I came to the end of my career I was like ‘do I follow my heart or do I follow my head?’. “The head was to stay in football, the heart was to do the painting which I loved. So I decided to follow, my heart. “I was doing my coaching badges, I thought I would be a coach when I finished playing. The art was just a hobby that got out of control, but it’s something I love doing even to this day.

“The more I did it, the better I got at it. “I had started to sell some pictures before I finished playing so I knew providing I worked hard at it there would be something there for me. “But I’m fortunate to have that background as a footballer to support me. If I didn’t have that, it’s not like the art is a lucrative career where you make tonnes of money. “Maybe one day if I get signed up by a publisher, but until that point I am just an artist trying to get by selling paintings.” Craddock studied art at A level having failed to get an apprenticeship as a footballer, but as a teenager making a career out of pictures was nowhere near his thinking. Having finally earned a break at Cambridge, it was the move to Sunderland which saw him reach the top in football, at a time when art was nothing more than just a hobby.

t a l k

Tragedy then intervened, seeing painting take on an ever more important role after Craddock and his wife suffered the heartache of losing their five-month-old son to cot death. He explained: “I did A levels at school. I wasn’t quite good enough. I didn’t think I was quite good enough as a footballer, I went for a few trials to get a YTS and wasn’t quite good enough so I stayed on at school to get my A levels. “I did A level art and geology, kind scraping through my art with a D. But then I was lucky enough to get a trial at Cambridge, I went down there and the rest is history, playing 20 years of professional football. “I kept it going while I was playing, just on a low level. I never had any ambition to be an artist, I was never good enough to be an artist. It was just a hobby, I enjoyed drawing. “It was literally pencil sketches, the money I was on was absolute pennies so it was a pencil, paper and do some sketches – that simple.

t o

t h e

“It was when I went to Sunderland, I had a bit more money and I bought some different materials like oils and decided to have a go at it and see if I could teach myself oil painting. It all went from there. “I was all self taught – I’m the kind of person who, if there is a way to do something, I will try to find it and that’s how I still apply myself now to my painting. “When I was at Sunderland we lost our son to cot death, he was five months. At that point I just went into it a little bit more. It was a way to, not forget, but to cope with the grief we were going through so I used that as a coping mechanism. “I was doing the oil paints at that time, practising. I was doing them in the lounge, I didn’t have a studio at that time. I remember a friend of mine came round who was an ex-pro player who was then in finance. He saw them and said ‘these are really good – you need to do something with them’.

p l aye r s

“I had never intended to, I was just doing them as a hobby that’s all it was but it grew from there. “I have always been of the mind I would never sell anything I would not be prepared to put on my own wall. I was playing football, loving football and making money from football. “Once my teammates became aware of it, a few of them asked me to do a painting of them scoring goals, or pictures of their kids or their dog. A few of them were genuinely surprised, but when one bought one another one bought one and it went from there. “They respected me. They were impressed, they didn’t give me any stick which was quite good. I was an older pro anyway so I had that respect in the dressing room. “They could see I was serious about it so I never got any stick – they used to just buy the paintings which was great. “I’d like to be at the point where I was taking on commissions where the stuff was selling before it was even painted, that type of thing.

“Just being respected as an artist, getting my name out there, people knowing my work wherever they are, they can say ‘yep, that’s a Craddock’. That’s where I want to be. “I don’t want people to buy my work because I was a footballer, I want people to buy my work because they look at it and think ‘wow, I want to put that on the wall’. “As a footballer, it is such a short career but you don’t see that as a young lad, how short a career it is. “I was fortunate enough to get to 37-38, a 20-year career. There are not many people who manage to sustain a career that long, so I encourage any player any player at a young age, even though I know how difficult it is to be focused on something like playing football to think about doing something out of the game. “Be it art, or anything, try and have something to focus on after football. You’re a long-time retired.” www.art-affect.com

a d v i c e

Dave Wright Brighton & Hove Albion F.C

A fresh approach to modern day coaching Meet David Wright – The ex-pro turned academy coach who, step by step, is proving himself to be one of the hottest prospects within the coaching world.

he boom in academy development in recent years has offered a second career in the game to some players coming to the end of their careers.

Time and again we see some of the biggest names wanting to make their move into the coaching world once it comes to hanging up their boots.

But not everyone experiences the ease in which the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have been able to go into top jobs in management. Instead the vast majority have to start again at the bottom, working with the kids and trying to build a new life and career. One who has done just that with great success is leading youth academy coach - David Wright, who saw his own dreams of a successful playing career first hit by financial crisis and then ended by a knee injury by the age of 21. Wright was on the verge of the first team at Portsmouth before the club entered administration and forced them to release players – and suffered a similar experience at his next club Crystal Palace. With other clubs across the country watching him, a shattering knee injury effectively brought a halt to a playing career that had only just begun. But that proved a blessing in disguise for the midfielder who was then forced to rethink his life plan and embark on the long road to fulfilment outside of playing.

Wright, now 38, said: “I was going on trials here and there and then I did my knee. I was playing at Bognor, had clubs watching me and the knee went – everything that could go did. “I tried to get back but I could never get back to the levels pre-injury. “I always kept my education going, which my parents encouraged and I managed to get into University to do a sports science degree and Pompey offered me my first opportunity to begin coaching youngsters. “Sport science wasn’t then what it is now, I wasn’t really enjoying it. I found it seriously hard coming out of pro football and becoming a student. “I didn’t know what had hit me to be honest. I was interested in how the body works but it was all a bit too much for me. “Then I thought about teaching, I was training to be a teacher but had an experience at secondary school that frightened the life out of me. I went to see my old teacher at a primary school and he suggested that I pursue a career working in a primary school. “ I was already coaching kids at primary school age, so I decided that would be the route I would take. I would train to be a primary teacher whilst part time at Pompey doing my badges. “Soon after, Pompey reached the heights of the Premier League and that’s when they offered me to go full-time meaning I had to give up my job as a teacher. The decision was made easy as I knew that working in football was where my passion lied.”

“

You want to work at the highest level where you can and challenge yourself.

”

Wright soon found his feet and then earned an opportunity to join Stoke, where he was quickly promoted to Academy Director by the age of 30. And it was there his eyes were opened to a whole new side of the game which players are not usually aware of when they first consider a coaching path – strategic operations. He overhauled the setup at Stoke, and after working for a period auditing Premier League academies he began a similar role back at Portsmouth. Now he has been cherry-picked by Brighton’s new head Dan Ashworth to drive through a revolution at the Seagulls He added: “I ended up overseeing the Stoke academy there for nearly seven years, helped them achieve category one status, a lot of investment went in and they are starting to see the fruits of that now. “There’s quite a lot coming through there. That’s what many people struggle to grasp, with youth development it takes years.

between academy and first team and then moved more onto the operational side. I really appreciated his advice and enjoyed the first team experience.

“You can’t just turn up and put a coaching session on and expect to deliver players, there’s a hell of a lot more to it than that.

“Once Brighton came knocking it was a no-brainer. I couldn’t turn it down. Where they are as a club, the facilities, the ambition and with Dan Ashworth going there heading things up it’s on a completely different level. “You want to work at the highest level where you can and challenge yourself. I didn’t achieve what I wanted to as a player so I’ve worked extremely hard carving out a career, and you don’t get many opportunities to work at that level.

“You have to apply yourself and be dedicated to it. You have to be prepared to put your time in, and learn – maybe even do things for nothing. I’m not saying that’s right, but you need to go and watch sessions, go and watch games, put your time in, go and see different coaches work.

“As academy recruitment manager I will be responsible for player recruitment at all ages. I will have my own department, set up a recruitment structure with scouts, admin staff, and set up a national recruitment structure and depending what happens with Brexit, a European structure.

“It’s a lot easier now to get a job because of the amount of jobs there, the pathway is slightly easier, but people do still seem to want things handed on a plate to them.

“You don’t always see it immediately, I like to think I left it in a healthy state and they are seeing the benefit.

“I clung on to the coaching for as long as I could, because that’s what I wanted to do. Because of the route my career took, without really planning it that way, it’s now gone more operational and administrative.

“Kenny Jackett asked if I would go back to Pompey and set up a new recruitment structure, a crossover

“It’s more strategic, overseeing and putting things in place rather than actually being out on the grass delivering.

“Looking back that’s why I did, I was craving learning and trying to better myself.

“But you’re moving into a completely different industry. Your playing days, as useful as it is to pass on that knowledge and experience, you’ve got to learn how to get that message across, teach and educate. There is a skill to that. “The welfare, the safeguarding, all the things you didn’t think about when you were playing, you have to be conscious of if you want to work in youth development.”

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

JONAS HECTOR has been chased by some of the biggest clubs in Europe this year – but he has snubbed them all in favour of playing second division football this season.

ector is an established German international who featured at the World Cup and was courted by the likes of Liverpool. Bayern Munich and Juventus.

But the 28-year-old has rejected all advances for his signature because he believes he owes a debt of loyalty to Cologne for putting him on the path to international football. Cologne suffered the nightmare of relegation from the Bundesliga last season, but even at such an important time in his career, the leftback decided there was no way he could turn his back on the club in their hour of need. He knows he is putting his Germany place at risk, and missing out on the chance of a lucrative new deal elsewhere. But for him, leading Cologne’s bid for promotion and an immediate return to the top flight is more important than personal opportunity.

Hector said: “I’ve had eight years with this club, and since I’ve been it here there it has been a good time - and I don’t want to go if the times are bad, because that’s life. “There are good times, there are bad times, and when that’s the case you have stay and you have to work your way through it. I owe it to them. “For me, I made the decision to sign a new contract two years ago and I want to be part of this club. If we go down, I have to, I want to go with it because it is the way I live. “That’s my personal character, the club gave me something eight years ago, and now for me it would be hard to say goodbye because I want to play in another league or another club.” Hector added: “I am very happy in this club, my family, my girlfriend, we are happy to be in Cologne. I am happy to be in the club. “For me it’s the best decision to stay there and live a lucky life. “I heard about interest from the Premier League and other leagues, but in this moment no, I am happy to play and to be in Germany, and that’s the reason why other clubs from England is not attractive for me.

“I have had people over the last few weeks a lot saying it is not a common trait in a footballer. “Since the decision to stay in Cologne, there have been a lot of people come and say ‘respect’, a ‘good decision’, and that ‘it’s nice to see that in footballers’. “It’s not the normal way but for me it is the best way. “I don’t know how it will be with Germany next season. The focus was only on the World Cup, now afterwards we will see.” Ironically, Hector is not the only player who was on duty at Russia 2018 who has found himself in the second tier of club football this season. Belgium’s Nacer Chadli has been kept by West Brom following their relegation to the Championship, and England’s understudy goalkeeper Jack Butland has remained at Stoke. But they are with their respective clubs largely due to know interested sides stumping up the kind of money it would have taken to tempt their managers into selling – and it remains open to question whether if Liverpool or Juve came calling they would stay loyal. Hector has done just that. Now Cologne just need to secure promotion this season to ensure it was all worthwhile.

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

Visa signs ground-breaking seven-year women's football deal with UEFA Visa becomes the first ever sponsor of UEFA women's football in a partnership running from 2018 until 2025.

U 64

EFA has announced a landmark multi-year partnership with Visa. The global payments technology company becomes the first ever UEFA sponsor dedicated to women’s football, following the unbundling by UEFA of sponsorship rights from the men’s game.

“We are delighted to announce this exciting and forward-thinking partnership with Visa and look forward to working together in new and imaginative ways to accelerate the already impressive growth of women’s football,” said UEFA’s director of marketing, Guy-Laurent Epstein. “Together we can provide memorable experiences across all UEFA’s women’s competitions, while the partnership will help to create a unique platform to showcase our footballing heroes,” Epstein added. “This will not only help to inspire current fans of women’s football but also ensure future generations take an interest in the sport. We are pleased Visa shares our vision for a vibrant women’s game – a vision that has taken a significant step forward with the signing of our partnership agreement.” The move to revolutionise the traditional sports sponsorship model was undertaken to help continue to foster the rapid growth of women’s football across Europe, and to create more commercial opportunities to develop the game even further. The partnership will support women’s football at all levels. As a result, Visa will become a main partner of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the UEFA Women’s EURO, the UEFA Women’s

Under-19 and U17 Championships and the UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO until 2025, as well as UEFA’s football marketing platform Together #WePlayStrong, which is aimed at getting more girls and women to play football. “It is an exciting time for women’s football. Twenty-one million women and girls participate in the beautiful game across Europe and at Visa we want to celebrate every single one of them,” said Charlotte Hogg, chief executive officer of Visa Europe. “We are proud to announce Visa’s groundbreaking partnership with UEFA to support and accelerate the growth of women’s football throughout Europe. We want to inspire, enable and leave a legacy to girls and young women to follow their dreams. With UEFA, we plan to bring women’s football to the forefront because at Visa we believe in acceptance everywhere, from the pitch to the boardroom.” The unprecedented seven-year deal reflects the continued progress of women’s football throughout Europe, as well as the success of the Together #WePlayStrong campaign. Through the partnership, Visa will help amplify the campaign via co-branded content designed to change the image of the

women’s game and make football the most played sport by women and girls in Europe. Together #WePlayStrong has already achieved significant success in partnering with global popstar Rita Ora on her European tour and received nearly six million views on the Press Play vlogs, a content series in which some of Europe’s best women’s professional players give an insight into their daily lives. “The women’s game has always had tremendous value for football and the wider society, but today marks yet another milestone for women’s football and what it can offer,” said UEFA’s head of women’s football, Nadine Kessler. “It proves that women’s football has truly taken on a new dimension within the commercial landscape. Visa’s commitment and excitement embodies the new heights we have reached with our sport. “Partnering with such a brand confirms our belief that we have entered this new era in women’s football at all levels of the game. The potential is limitless. We are proud and look forward to working closely with Visa, to draw on its vast experience in helping us to shape future growth in what are incredibly exciting times for the women’s game.”

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

Ralph Hasenhüttl

Southampton FC

alph Hasenhuttl has rejected his nickname 'The Klopp of The Alps', insisting he will build his own "character" at Southampton. New Saints boss Hasenhuttl had shrugged off comparisons with his friend and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, and prioritised dragging his new club out of the Premier League relegation zone. Former Austria striker Hasenhuttl has become Saints' fourth permanent manager in less than 18 months, after Mark Hughes was sacked on Monday. The 51-year-old will oversee just one training session before Saturday's crunch league clash at Cardiff, and called on his squad to push quickly up the table. The engaging Hasenhuttl, who joked that his surname translates into English as 'rabbit hutch', fired a word of warning that he will ship out any players not ready for hard work.

Asked about his nickname and comparisons with Liverpool boss Klopp, Hasenhuttl replied: “I have heard about it. I don’t like it so much; I want to be my own character. “We know each other and we were sat our FIFA pro-licence tests together. “I was always a friend of his from football. He has a very proactive way of playing, and made a big mark in Germany. That kind of football really influenced my style. “If I could do similar it would be fantastic for me, but that is too far away. We have other targets, goals and problems. “The first target is to move as quickly as you can out of this relegation zone.” The former RB Leipzig boss admitted he will drive the Southampton squad hard, vowing to produce at the bare minimum a team that grafts for the supporters. Former Wales striker Hughes was sacked after just eight months at the helm on Monday, with Saints now winning just once in 15 league matches this term. “You can expect a very passionate kind of football with 11 characters on the field who know exactly what to do, what they have to show the crowd,” said Hasenhuttl.

“I know there are no guarantees of winning and the only thing we have is to work on chances. If you want guarantees buy a washing machine. “If we win the fans will follow us and appreciate what we do on the pitch and if this relationship works I don’t know the limits for us. “I want to bring the players to their limits. If they like to go this way with us they are invited. “When they follow it will be an intensive, hard-working way. If someone says it is too much running or work they will fall very quickly beside us.” Asked how he will handle becoming Austria’s first Premier League manager, he continued: “It means a lot of pressure on me, because if I do badly the gap is closed for everyone else, so I should do it well! “But I’m not afraid of anything. I’m proud but this is only the beginning. “It’s nice to come here with people talking about you, but it’s better when you leave and people are still talking about you.” Hasenhuttl will be supported at Southampton by existing first-team assistant coach Kelvin Davis, who was in charge of the team against Tottenham, as well as head of goalkeeping Dave Watson and head of sports science Alek Gross.

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

THE WORLD’S GREATEST FOOTBALLERS INVITE THEIR FANS TO JOIN NEW DIGITAL FAN CLUB:

OTRO · ·

OTRO is a new platform created by the players to share their stories with their fans, direct and unfiltered

OTRO will feature exclusive and original content from the players to show their lives off the pitch

TRO, a digital fan club created by the world’s greatest footballers, launched around the globe. Fans joining OTRO will be able to enjoy new and exclusive content every day including original films and interviews, live Q&As and challenges set by the players giving them the chance to win incredible prizes, including meet and greets. The full list of players who have joined OTRO are: Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, James Rodriguez, Luis Suarez, Isco, Romelu Lukaku, Jerome Boateng, Paulo Dybala, Gabriel Jesus, Lieke Martens, Benjamin Mendy, Dele Alli, David Luiz, Toni Duggan and Eric Cantona, with more top players to be added in the future. Together they represent ten different footballing nations and have a combined social media following approaching one billion.

OTRO provides unprecedented access and an authentic view of these top players that fans can’t get anywhere else. OTRO enables the stars of the modern game to connect with their fans, telling personal stories through short form content and feature length shows, interviews and documentaries that shine a light on their lives away from the pitch. Speaking about the launch of OTRO, CEO Jeremy Dale said: “Football fans all over the world want a deeper connection with their heroes and this is where OTRO comes in. Our line-up of players is beyond even my wildest dreams and I know that fans are going to love them coming together to form one club where they share their stories. We’ve specifically designed OTRO to be a community where members and players engage directly. These players are the founding members of OTRO and they are now inviting their fans to join their other club.” Fans can join at OTRO.com from launch or download the app from the iOS and Android app stores later in the week. Everyone can become a member of the club and enjoy a selection of content for free. The Unlimited membership is available for a monthly subscription of £3.99 and gives members unrestricted access to everything on OTRO.

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

There are three different types of content on OTRO: OTRO ORIGINAL SERIES Made by award-winning film makers with the players, these series show the other side of the world’s greatest footballers. With five new episodes posted every week, these are their stories told their way. Fans can watch Neymar Jr and Beckham having their first ever indepth conversation as they talk about the difference between their footballing experiences. They will also be able to see Romelu Lukaku reveal his ambition to become a manager for the first time.

Modern Game Modern Game is a landmark moment in football documentaries. For the first time, the world’s best players share their honest appraisal on transfer fees, pressures of international football, struggles during injuries and retirement, as well as friendship, family and their enduring passion for the game. Featuring legends Beckham, Cantona and Zidane as well as modern stars including Neymar Jr, Lukaku and Gabriel Jesus, Modern Game is the chance for players to speak their mind, and nothing is left off the table. In episode one ‘Representing A Nation’ these players discuss their experiences of playing for their national teams.

Modern Six Steps Game A compelling and revealing series of portraits of OTRO players conducted over extensive interviews and chats with those closest to them. This charts the six pivotal moments that defined their career and shaped their lives. This includes Luis Suarez on his emotional journey to Barcelona and the role his family plays in inspiring him to greatness. Another episode sees Benjamin Mendy talking for the first time about the very personal reasons that propelled him to Premier League and World Cup glory.

Orbital A freestyle stunt show with extraordinary challenges set by the players including Dele Alli, Jerome Boateng and James Rodriguez. Orbital sees three of football’s finest young freestylers, including World No.1 Liv Cooke, travel to London, Munich, Barcelona and Paris to tear up these cities in a series of stunts involving daredevils, drift-racers and skaters. In episode one, see Dele challenge the freestylers on the River Thames in a stunt that combines football and surfing

t a l k

t o

t h e

p l aye r s

Building The Player This series uses a mix of technology, analysis and experimentation to explore what separates the great players from the good. Building The Player reveals and breaks down the data that shows why Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar Jr, James Rodriguez, Romelu Lukaku and Dele Alli rise above their peers. In episode one, the team studies 5 x Ballon d’Or winner, Leo Messi.

By The Fans Made almost entirely from fan footage, By The Fans follows supporters of semifinalists France, Croatia, Belgium and England on the final stages through this year’s World Cup finals. The series delivers an emotional punch as it chronicles the highs and lows of fans during a rollercoaster summer of football. Episode one looks at England and the Three Lions’ memorable journey to the Semi-Finals.

OTRO SHORTS With more than ten new episodes every week, this content shows the person behind the player - their passions, their culture and their lives. In some of the early episodes, fans get the inside track on Romelu Lukaku as he discusses his love of rap music and can also follow David Beckham taking a motorbike trip with friends in California.

OTRO PLAYER MADE Posted each week, these are bite-sized videos filmed by the players themselves that reveal their lives behind the scenes and where broadcasters can’t go. They reveal the lifestyles and personalities of today’s football superstar in surprising and humorous ways. See Gabriel Jesus’ reaction as his mother celebrates wildly after she defeats him playing pool.

65 episodes of OTRO programming will be available to members at launch. New content will be released each week enabling members to enjoy new stories every day. A selection of OTRO programming, including both short and feature length content, will be made available without charge for all members. In addition to the original and exclusive content, OTRO features partnerships with OPTA, IMG and GETTY IMAGES to give fans access to stats, facts, photography and clips from their favourite players on and off the pitch. OTRO launches globally on the 3rd December and is available in eight languages.

fo o t b a l l e r s

l i fe

Magazine Membership Join now on

members@footballerslife.com Become a member now to save 63%. Annual membership (four issues) is £39 for a limited time, normally £80.

Visit www.footballerslife.com magazines.whsmith.co.uk

c a r s

n Gre

Az Luxe

Lister

c a r s

Inspired by contemporary art deco coachbuilders.

Introducing an elegant and rare motor car from Eadon Green

arity is an attribute awarded to the most authentic, bespoke and highly-desirable creations of luxury. Zeclat is a modern interpretation of classic automotive designs and pays homage to famous coach builders of the 1930s like Figoni & Falaschi, Bugatti, Chapron, and PourTout. A unique, artisan genesis from Eadon Green founded upon the most ambitious, creative and uncompromising design houses in the modern automotive world. A limited run of seven cars makes Zeclat one of the rarest breeds within the automotive world today, with four already purchased and commissioned for the most exclusive driving experiences. The devotion of some of the globe’s highest profile collectors is seamlessly integrated with a wealth of bespoke capabilities, from tailoring, engineering and design. A renaissance in contemporary classic design, shaped by the wind and refined to cloak the meticulously engineered motor car. Zeclat is a groundbreaking creation inspired by the grace and poise of elegant motorcars from an Art Deco period and built with discerning patrons in mind.

An expressionism devoid of restraint, Zeclat possesses the head-turning appeal which endorses the its place as artwork on the road. With every element of the car meticulously constructed, engineering and design is equalled by performance with Zeclat boasting a 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 powerplant, the car is capable of a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds and a truly rewarding driving experience with a body design that works in concert to stabilise the car at speed and through cornering. Eadon Green are purveyors of the highest quality and Zeclat is developed with meticulously crafted materials, engineered with a carbon composite material and aluminium structure. Aesthetically demonstrating the choices of the connoisseur, a conception of a personal vision is commissioned throughout. The interior demarcated with Eadon Green stitching in the headrests and a palette of colours available to suit those who require the finest in individualism. An unrestrained masterpiece.

c a r s

ith success comes the ability to live in luxury, but as a professional athlete a gruelling travel schedule can often mean long periods away from home, and a lot of miles covered to get to and from matches, appearances and training. This can take its toll, not only on the athlete, but also for loved ones, and is the hidden price of success not many realise their favourite players have to pay.

AZ Luxe provide London’s leading luxury concierge service, supplying luxury cars, chauffeurs and private jets to their discerning client base. They understand the preciousness of time, the importance of discretion and the art of customer service

Anthony Joshua - British professional boxer

Alex Iwobi - Arsenal FC/Nigeria

AZ Luxe CEO Abbass Zadeh (31) is a young businessman who brings fresh thinking to the world of chauffeuring, concierge and luxury car hire. Having spent many years working for others, Abbass realised that none of his previous employers offered the levels of service he knew his clients deserved. As a result, he formed AZ Luxe in September 2017 to provide the best cars, the highest levels of service and an unrivalled approach to customer care. Just over a year later, the company now dominates the UK luxury hire, chauffeur and concierge market with a fleet of vehicles worth over £2.5 million and a host of international clients.

c a r s

Using a chauffeur can seem like an extravagance, only to be used on a night out when the drinks are flowing, and you want to arrive in style, but a chauffeur can offer time-limited professionals so much more than that. AZ Luxe only use hand-picked, experienced chauffeurs who then undergo a rigorous in-house training program giving confidence to their clients, allowing them to relax as they know they are in safe hands. A chauffeur will know the best routes across a city, will make progress smoothly and gently and will provide time to think, work and relax. They will know the best entrance to make a discreet arrival, and the one in which to make a grand entrance. Whatever their clients desire, and however they want to arrive, a personal chauffeur can make it happen without worry. Watching a loved one play in an important fixture or a high-profile away game is always a treat, and the fact a player knows their family and friends are watching from the stands provides an undeniable boost on match day. While players enjoy travelling in style to games, focused with the team, providing a chauffeur driven car for loved ones to attend can add a level of excitement and luxury. It is a comfort to know special guests are travelling in comfort and safety, that they can enjoy match hospitality without having to drive and everyone can be reassured by the fact they will be dropped right to their door at the end of the day.

Travelling to London is a regular for most sports professionals, often they will arrive by jet or in the team coach, and when away from home it can be hard to maintain a personal sense of style and identity. AZ Luxe know this, and their clients often call on them to provide luxurious cars for their London stay, so they can live in the means to which they have become accustomed. Offering the latest supercars from the likes of Lamborghini, AMG and Rolls-Royce, clients can self-drive the latest, must have supercars around the capital, maintaining their image, their public identity and being able to enjoy the finest cars in the world while far away from home. While many luxury car hire companies offer old models, or tired examples of once great cars, AZ Luxe invests heavily in growing their fleet of vehicles to ensure they meet the exacting needs of a demanding client. AZ Luxe were the first hire company in the UK to offer the Rolls-Royce Wraith for both chauffeur and hire and they are the only company to offer the Lamborghini Huracan Performante as a part of their fleet. Their unique, bespoke commission Rolls-Royce Phantom is the most in-demand car in London, offering unsurpassed style, space and comfort. Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, arranging luxury transport for yourself or others, or if you want to drive rather than be driven, AZ Luxe are the only number you need to have stored in your phone.

c a r s

THE LISTER MOTOR COMPANY RE-DESIGNATES ITS MOST POWERFUL MODEL EVER

– THE LISTER LFT-666 – AND ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST LISTER TUNING DIVISION SPECIFICATION OPTIONS

The Lister Motor Company confirms its re-designated nomenclature for the new Lister LFT-666, the most powerful Lister produced in the brand’s 65-year history Lister also announces its Lister Tuning Division LFT specification options and pricing Lister confirms it’s dedicated new Lister Head Office, plus hints at the Lister LFP, potentially the world’s fastest SUV, with full details to follow in due course

ritish specialist sports car maker The Lister Motor Company - revealed its 666 bhp prototype based on the Jaguar F-Type earlier this year and subsequently took a record number of advanced orders. Since then, the limited production UK manufacturer has been busy refining and developing the F-Type even further, making the 666 bhp model the fastest, most powerful and luxurious Lister ever built in the legendary Cambridgeshire marque’s 65-year history. Today, Wednesday 1st August 2018, Lister is excited to announce important updates to the original prototype launch car. Production models will be designated the Lister LFT-666 and will feature exclusive all-new Lister designed carbon fibre body panels, helping to create a lighter and more aerodynamic vehicle. Exclusive Lister replacement parts include front bumper, front splitter, rear diffuser, rear lip spoiler, rear extended wheel arches a new grille design and new lightweight alloy wheels fitted with Michelin tyres.

By replacing many of the GRP parts of the standard F-Type, Lister has created a lighter and stronger car that offers improved aerodynamics on both road and track with the end result being a much faster car than the standard model. Lister has also re-worked the suspension and some interior parts, including the steering wheel and seat design.

hard on developing our Tuning Division, starting with modifying the Jaguar F-Type. Originally, we named the prototype the Lister ‘Thunder’, however, due to future model lineage, all 99-production models will now be known a, the Lister LFT-666, a befitting title and one where an intrigued passer-by instantly knows the break horse power of each Lister model.”

The first 666 bhp Lister LFT-666 order will be ready for customer delivery on 1st October 2018. In addition to the 99 examples of the supercharged 5.0-litre V8, Lister will also offer wheel and body enhancements for standard Jaguar F-Type models worldwide, with kits starting from just £9,750 for the Lister badge, bumper and wheel upgrade. Non-tuned cars with the Lister body enhancements will be known as simply the Lister LFT, with no BHP denotation.

Lawrence continues, “The future of Lister is extremely exciting. We are investing £10million into the Lister Motor Company over the next two years, including a new dedicated 25,000 sq. ft. Lister head office and showroom in Lancashire, creating over 50 new jobs in the local area. We also have more new models to follow soon, including exciting news on our attempt at creating the world’s fastest SUV, which I can announce will be named the Lister LFP.”

Speaking of the exciting developments of the Lister Motor Company, Lawrence Whittaker, CEO says, “Over the past six months the Lister Motor Company has been working

An official announcement on the new 25,000 sq. ft. Lister Head Office and Lister LFP will follow in due course.

c a r s

THE LISTER MOTOR COMPANY CONFIRMS THAT IT IS TO BUILD THE LFP -

THE WORLD’S FASTEST SUV H

ot in the broad tyre tracks of the fast-selling new Lister LFT-666 coupe confirmed last month, the 65-year old allBritish specialist sports car maker - The Lister Motor Company - can now also confirm the recent rumours that it will soon be launching the world’s fastest SUV; the Lister LFP Full details of the new, bespoke Lister LFP are still under wraps, but key vital statistics can now be revealed… The Lister LFP will produce around 670bhp, with a top speed of 200 mph and an estimated 0-60 mph time of just 3.5 seconds, with extensive carbon fibre modifications helping to potentially make it the world’s fastest SUV Following great customer interest in this new monster killer SUV model, The Lister Motor Company is now taking advance orders for the LFP, with prices estimated to start from around £140,000. Lister - Britain’s oldest surviving racing car company - was named the fastest-growing firm in the UK’s competitive motor industry business sector in 2017, and for the first quarter of 2018, by leading independent financial analysis specialists, Plimsoll Lister is now launching its Lister Tuning Division and moving into a dedicated new Lister Head Office in the North West of England. With 670 bhp on tap, an estimated 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 3.5 seconds, and a 200 mph top speed, The Lister Motor Company’s new LFP is set to become the fastest SUV in the world, beating the performance of recently-launched SUVs from other well-known prestige car brands, with monster killer performance, faster than most supercars, never mind SUVs.

Commenting on the much-anticipated release of the bespoke new LFP model, Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of the Lister Motor Company, says “I am delighted, overwhelmed and gratified by the huge level of interest, excitement and orders our LFT-666 supercar has already generated in just a few months. Based on early indications, our new LFP promises to repeat the success of the LFT-666, and I really can’t wait to reveal the world’s fastest SUV quite soon.”

Set for full release in the coming weeks, Lister’s new LFP will follow the overwhelming success of the devilish LFT-666 coupe, launched earlier this year, and already becoming the fastest-selling model in the all-British specialist sports car maker’s 65-years of continuous history, with first customer deliveries due to commence in October. Early prospective customer interest in the Lister LFP is already considerable, prompting the Company to open its order book now, ahead of the official reveal of the model, with pricing set to begin at around £140,000, and extensive carbon fibre modifications to help improve weight reduction and road holding. Final specifications will be confirmed shortly.

He adds “We kicked-off 2018 were we left 2017, as the UK’s fastestgrowing company in the competitive motor industry business sector, according to leading independent financial analysis specialists, Plimsoll. Over the past six months the Lister Motor Company has been working very hard, developing our Tuning Division, starting with modifying the Jaguar F-Type, the Lister LFT-666, and setting up our new headquarters in Lancashire. The imminent release of our new monster killer LFP promises to see this healthy situation continue for the remainder of this year, and beyond.”

iel

john

c Bu

fa s h i o n

usah/

h Coll

kle & Sea m

fa s h i o n

Daniel Johnson C

Daniel Johnson is the go-to male grooming expert for some of the biggest names in football.

he last few months have been extremely busy for me, but all positive with some big exciting movements particularly with the Daniel Johnson brand. For me the best place to start is this summer’s world cup in Russia, which saw the England lads massively surpass any pre-tournament predictions and of course overcome the penalty hoodoo that has cursed the England national side for decades. Getting to the Semi-Final was a fantastic achievement and the morale and all-round vibe around the squad was as positive as many people would have ever seen in an England camp.

Working with a number of the England squad, I had the honour of being invited out to Russia to provide hair styling to the likes of Ashley Young and Ruben LoftusCheek amongst others. It wasn’t just the players in Russia that wanted the hair styled; I also looked after the pundits during my time in Russia including Jermaine Jenas. Working alongside the players at major tournaments and on an international scale is nothing new to me, however the excitement and thrill never gets old.

The World Cup is the biggest stage in football, so undoubtedly the players wanted to look sharp at all times, helping them feel confident on the pitch and contribute to the positive morale amongst the team. I believe that taking care of your style and appearance plays a major role in boosting the confidence of a player and we all know that when you look good you feel good and when you feel good it breeds confidence helping a player to succeed on the pitch. For many players it is a fantastic opportunity for them to express and style themselves on the pitch with the entire world watching. Moving on from the World Cup, I was delighted to recently confirm my position as the official UK GaGa Milano Ambassador. GaGa Milano are an exciting, luxury watch brand fronted by Neymar Jnr. The design is unique, classy and colourful – all the while maintaining all of the features of a luxury watch. My work with GaGa Milano recently took me to a photo shoot in central London which was great fun, showcasing the latest line of watches. We started our campaign in London, which will throughout the rest of 2018 and 2019 eventually reach the entirety of the UK. The shoot was held at the The Clock & Librarians private members gym for the launch of the first advert which has now been released on all social

media platforms and media. This is an exciting period of growth for the brand so keep an eye out for what the future holds for GaGa Milano. Since I’ve been back in the UK and whilst juggling GaGa Milano work I’ve also been very involved with the launch of our new clinic in Cheshire. The new clinic is with my business partners Craig Henton, Michael Vaughan (OBE ex-England Cricket Captain) and Ryan Giggs (Current Wales Manager). At the clinic I’ll have my team of experts along side me, carrying out ScalpMicropigmentation (SMP), which is a hair enhancement treatment with instant results. Replicating hair follicles with pigment ink, it rebuilds the hairline to give instant results with only 3/4 two-hour sessions. As you can see the past few months have been extremely busy for my team and me but they have certainly been enjoyable with some really exciting things being worked on. Stay tuned with all things GaGa Milano and the overall Daniel Johnson brand by following us on all of our social media platforms: Instagram: @iamdanieljohnson Facebook: OfficialDanielJohnson Twitter: IamDanielJ Website: www.iamdanielj.com

fa s h i o n

Buckle & Seam Buckle and Seam introduces its

Midnight Blue collection of premium quality business bags By going direct to the manufacturers and selling online, Buckle and Seam have cut out the middle man, offering amazing leather and craftsmanship at an affordable price

Established premium business bag manufacturer, Buckle and Seam is today pleased to announce that its hugely popular range of its luxury business bags, laptop sleeves and travel luggage are now available in Midnight Blue. The bags are available exclusively from buckleandseam. com with prices starting at just £66

Terra £66

Linwood £316

The new collection uses a two-toned effect, which comes from crazy horse leather where a special kind of wax is applied to the full grain cowhide leather surface that has been smoothed out. This unique colour can be a statement piece for contemporary men in a formal business setting, or casual in relaxed settings.

Cali £200

Sierra £236

arco Feelisch, Founder of Buckle and Seam, explained: “Our customers were asking for something that could be considered more formal than our brown leather. Taking that into consideration we decided that we wanted something different from black, we wanted something unusual, and what we ended up with was just that.” Christian, Designer of Buckle and Seam, commented, “We wanted something universally elegant but with a twist. The two toned effect is a very special category of leather that takes a lot of time and effort to perfect. It is mostly done in browns and greys. The Crazy Horse blue two-tone effect is usually used in heritage collections and can typically be found in high end boutiques. We want to bring it to the streets and make this style more accessible.” He continued, “This unique colour has the ability to make the bags adaptable to their surroundings. They can be a statement piece in a formal business setting, or casual in a relaxed or sporty setting, which to us is a huge perk. We are trying to design for the contemporary man who needs something they can bring with them from work, to dinner, to the gym, to home.”

All Buckle and Seam bags are manufactured by skilled craftsmen using carefully selected premium quality leather. Buckle and Seam’s beautiful business bags have been created to meet today’s modern man’s needs and preferences. With raw yet classy designs, the bags are perfect for both work and everyday life. The business bags fit both 13” and 15“ laptops and are padded for extra protection with built-in smart features such as a hidden trolley solution as well as adjusted pockets for phones, business cards and pens. The travel bags are designed to fit everything a person could possibly need for weekend trips without having to compromise on style or comfort.

In addition, the Midnight Blue collection also offers a unique personalisation option whereby customers can choose their favourite from seven inner lining options, including dots, blue and sporty red blue stripes. There is also the option to personalise further with their initials on the outside. The quality found in a Buckle and Seam bag is derived from the successful interaction between the selections of raw materials, experienced leather tanners, detail oriented manufacturers, and the use of only the finest accessories. The leather is carefully selected from the North of Pakistan and with an average thickness of 1.8 – 2 mm, it is twice as thick as the leather used in conventional leather bags and therefore more robust.

Willow £316

fa s h i o n

STM Myth collection

he new Myth collection from STM is a combination of intuitive organisation and stylish design. With SlingTech protection for your laptop that suspends the laptop away from the sides and off the floor of the bag at all times, isolating it from the bump zone, you can be sure that your tech is protected when you are on the move.

The innovative CableReady system keeps your cords conveniently stowed and out of the way even between compartments so you can keep the bag tidy whilst you are charging devices on the move. The luggage pass through securely connects your pack to baggage items and the air channel back panel system wraps around you to provide improved weight distribution – in other words maximum comfort. The 28L capacity means there is plenty of room for your personal gear as well as your tech items. Available in 3 different colours.

fa s h i o n

/BADR

Kane Mousah K

ane the Danger Mousah aged 32 years old is a top ranked MMA fighter and Owner/CEO of BADR Sport Ltd and Owner of BARR Management. On a sporting front, Kane is making big moves in the MMA world having gained notoriety with his lethal and devastating work within the Octagon. Most recently, Kane put his opponent George Emanuel to the sword in his home-city of Manchester on the 30th November adding to his impressive win rate. Despite his natural combat skills, Kane has had to overcome numerous obstacles in his pathway towards success, none more so than the tough days he spent early in his life.

Kane was born and raised in Rusholme, Manchester by his mother Helen who was a single parent to Kane and his younger sister. With no father figure throughout his upbringing he experienced his mother struggling to fend for him and his sister.

a big fight, which he went on to win. The euphoria of winning soon turned sour as only three days after victory, Kane was arrested for possession of a firearm following a police surveillance operation. Kane was found guilty and sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.

Kane was always involved in sports from a young age including hobbies such as: Football, Skating, Hockey and Martial Arts. He was always energetic and confident within himself.

All the way through his sentence Kane stated that he remained focused and always believed that his path in life was destined for achieving greatness based on his resilience of character, and winners mentality.

Kane looked up to his uncle Tony Mousah a fifth dan karate expert. Kane decided to follow in his footsteps and take up MMA as a way to protect himself from rival gang members. MMA proved to be a great distraction for Mousah, who took an instant love for the sport. Kane then began to compete however this early stage of his career was blighted by his continued involvement with gangs and high profile criminals. Showcasing his ability on the professional stage and after winning numerous fights, Kane was selected to go to Las Vegas for UFC Ultimate Fighter. Kane, however was unsuccessful and was advised to get more fights to boost his experience, cutting out silly mistakes and overall giving him a greater understanding of how to win. Shortly after UFC Ultimate Fighter, Kane got booked for

He continued to focus on staying fit and strong whilst wrestling with anyone he could either be it in the prison cells or the gym. With 2 years and 9 months left of his sentence Kane applied for a number of rehabilitation courses within the prison which resulted in him being granted his category D prisoner status which meant he could go to an open prison and start to get his life back into order. “That is where the transition in my mind happened” explained Kane who then began to study to become a gym instructor. After receiving his qualifications he became a personal trainer through the prison resettlement programme. “I started to earn legal money for the first time in my life”.

fa s h i o n

Whilst Kane was on release from prison working he was able to recommence training to fight. Three days before being released from prison he made his return with a comeback fight on a home leave, which he won. Upon release from prison Kane was soon promoted at the gym where he worked to become Assistant Manager. “After becoming a Manager I began to learn a lot of skills and started to think about building my own empire.” Explained Mousah. Kane then continued to compete in MMA competitions whilst balancing his managerial role at the gym, which he took very seriously. Kane went on to fight in one of the biggest MMA Fights in UK history against Mark Diakiese, which he lost by a devastating knockout blow in the first round. This was the turning point in his professional career, as Kane learnt in no easy way that he was trying to balance too much in his life. Kane accepted the better man beat him on the night but his confidence did not drop. The fight still brought a significant level of profile for Kane and his moment on the big stage despite the result allowed him to become well noticed as an MMA fighter. Kicking on from the loss to Diakiese, Kane regained his focus and stuck to his beliefs of constant elevation. Kane was

presented with an opportunity to work within the music industry with a wellknown Manchester music artist so he left his job at the gym and started to focus on his own path of becoming self-efficient. As time went on Kane started to learn a lot about the music industry supporting the growth of the situation he was working within. “I developed a crazy focus, work rate and determination which I was happy to use to support anyone I knew and worked with as I love helping to motivate and inspire others.” Kane’s strong focus and determination led to him progressing rapidly to new levels, subsequently presenting him with a number of major opportunities to elevate his career. Through the music industry Kane met his now business partner Carl who reached out to Kane to work with him in promoting his booming clothing brand. The relationship between Kane and Carl carried on growing whilst Kane continued with his MMA fighting and work within the music scene. Carl then decided he wanted to start a fresh venture within the clothing industry with another business partner Roger with which Kane was to be involved as the face of the brand.

Carl and Roger based the brand around Kane and named the brand BADR standing for Be A Dangerous Rival. Kane grabbed this opportunity and started to build the business from scratch. Within 12 months with both Carl’s experience of building one of the biggest brands in the UK, Rogers’s business knowledge and Kane’s determination BADR started to take form and grow. The focus of the brand was to create fitted stylish clothing representing strength through clothing with top MMA fighters and Boxers around the world wearing the clothing line. Over 18 months the brand has gained a massive following of loyal supports who view the brand as a family and as relatable. Kane takes pride in the company’s mission statement, which is to affect people’s lives

with more than just clothing. It’s a story of achievement based on knockbacks and struggle with a determined aim to motivate and inspire those people who search for a path to better their life – somewhat reflecting Kane’s life to date. Kane’s vision for the future is take the brand global and to carry on elevating through fresh stylish designs, creative marketing content and the BADR giveback scheme which is to promote and project the brands message through presentation and motivational speeches. The motivational talks from Kane have already been launched across schools in the Manchester area as he begins to project his message nationwide - BADR Sport, all Day, every day. Follow Kane Mousah via his social media channels: Instagram: @Kanem14 Twitter: @Kane86mousah

g a d g e t s

e Guide

103

rezzil

100

e Klang

104

Gadgets & Accessories Elite

106

fender

ue sadie

108

g an

& oluf

112

110

g a d g e t s

VINCENT KOMPANY JOINS REZZIL AS AN INVESTOR AND STRATEGIC ADVISOR

“

I think their approach to the future of cognitive development in football is cutting edge. I feel very

passionate about this and I’m excited to be involved.

The Manchester-founded sports technology and VR company is now based across offices in New York and Manchester, and is available worldwide Vincent Kompany has been named as a strategic advisor and investor at Rezzil. Rezzil powered by MiHiepa is a unique performance and analysis technology, created to develop mental resilience, decision making and match-readiness in players at the highest level. The Manchester City and Belgian captain will bring his knowledge and experience to the product’s development, at a time when Rezzil is being installed at a number of high-profile football clubs across Europe and beginning expansion into the global market with its first New York office. Rezzil utilises a HTC Vive Pro VR headset and HTC Vive 2.0 Trackers to create a real-world training experience, allowing players to develop or rehabilitate in engaging sessions and drills.

100

”

“

There is evidence that a player loses a significant percentage of his/her cognitive abilities when injured. I’ve always tried to keep my mind sharp during recovery by combining the physical work with cognitive work like watching my team mates train and play games, attending team meetings or studying. Rezzil offers intelligent cerebral solutions to physical problems, which makes recovering more fun. “I decided to invest in REZZIL because I think their approach to the future of cognitive development in football is cutting edge. I feel very passionate about this and I’m excited to get involved. – Vincent Kompany

”

“Vincent is one of the few players who have played at the top level for over a decade. He brings an immense amount of experience that only truly elite players like him can bring. His advice and input will help us shape Rezzil into a platform that helps elite players stay at the top of their game whilst improving the skills of thousands of young players across the world.” – Andy Etches, Sports Director

“Experience has told us that development of cutting-edge product is all about the quality of research and rapid iteration. So, the investment, knowledge and partnership that Vincent brings to the table is extremely exciting, as it is truly second to none. It ensures both our elite and academy platforms will reach their true potential, whilst bolstering the capabilities of our planned consumer products on the next generation of consoles.” – Adam Dickinson, Development Director

101

g a d g e t s

Rezzil powered by MiHiepa helps players develop mental and cognitive resilience and helps to find the players who will perform in the first second of their debut and the last second of a final. Vincent Kompany’s storied career is a case study in resilience and makes him the perfect ambassador for the platform, from winning the Belgian Golden Boot at age 18 while at Anderlecht, to beating persistent injuries to be named Premier League Player of the Season, going on to win three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, three Football League titles and two Community Shields. Elite teams around the world are already using Rezzil to help injured players in their recovery, bringing players back sharper and match ready after long term injuries, with the platform set to expand further in 2019. Standby for updates. REZZIL.COM

102

t h e

g u i d e

How to Become a Football Agent: The Guide

ur book, ‘How to Become a Football Agent: The Guide’ offers a complete overview of the profession and gives the crucial advice needed to succeed. The book covers all the areas that a football agent (at all levels) will encounter in their job. Starting with the basics, like the relevant registration processes and how to get into the business, to understanding how best to work with players and managers, as well as dealing with contracts and the media – this guide offers the complete experience. Each chapter is concluded with a summary, outlining the most important points to remember, as well as ‘expert opinions’. These views are given by industry

specialists relevant to the content of the chapter and include top agents like Pere Guardiola, Ilhan Gündoğan and Jörg Neubauer. They also consist of the views of Rory Smith and Daniel Geey who detail the relationship between football and their areas of expertise in press and legal relations respectively. The team behind Football Agent Education has used their experience and network to compile this must-know information. Representing high-calibre players like Mesut Özil, llkay Gündoğan and Shkodran Mustafi, as well as coordinating numerous on- and off-pitch transactions, they are able to give readers unrivalled advice from previous experiences in this industry.

103

g a d g e t s

Music

the

m ove :

Loewe adds the klang m1 speaker to its audio collection Loewe is proud to introduce its klang m1 – an exquisite portable wireless speaker. A miniature masterpiece, with extremely compact dimensions, incredible sound and a sophisticated minimal design with a hint of luxury and glamour.

he stainless-steel housing is precisely constructed with a high level of attention to detail. There are no visible screws or fixings, while polished bevelled edges offer subtle highlights. A high-tech colour finish ensures both beauty and longevity. Available in Silver, Graphite Grey and Rose Gold, the klang m1 is rounded off with a high-quality leather wrist strap. To ensure the finest level of finish, the surface is sandblasted and the colour (Graphite Grey or Rose Gold) is applied using a high-tech PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) process. The colour components are ‘vaporised’ in a hermetically sealed vacuum chamber and the fine cloud of vapour then precipitates in an even layer over the stainless-steel housing for a beautifully even and very hard-wearing finish. To achieve the subtle rose gold shade, the plating is made from over 80% real gold with a thickness ten times that of typical gold plating (which is circa 100 nanometres), making it exceptionally beautiful and lustrous. Whatsmore, the klang m1 has already been making waves in the design market, having picked up an iF Gold Award in the Audio category at this year’s iF Design Awards.

104

Sounds Good. Whenever. Wherever. When music is being played on a smartphone, tablet or laptop, the speaker will automatically detect the Bluetooth signal and bring the songs to life. The klang m1 features 2x high/mid-range speakers and 2x mid/base passive membranes for an astonishing quality of sound from such a small package.

And to really get the party started, you can pair two klang m1’s together for 2x the output and music in stereo. High tech re-chargeable lithiumion batteries deliver an outstanding play time of up to 12 hours and a rapid re-charge time of just 2 hours. Meanwhile, an integrated mic means you can also use klang m1 as a hands-free speaker for your mobile phone. Its controls are wonderfully intuitive; there’s LED indicators for battery life as well as audible feedback through the speaker. Featuring stunning design and exceptional sound quality, the portable m1 speaker now adds a mobile element to Loewe’s growing range of ‘klang’ audio products.

Move. Music. Lifestyle on the go. Loewe’s smart new lifestyle accessory is perfect for music on the go – whether sitting under a tree on a sunny day, practising yoga or working out outside, at the playground with your kids, in the office, enjoying BBQ’s in the garden, on holiday or in your hotel room. Klang m1’s compact size means you can take it with you in a pocket or bag - whenever, wherever.

105

g a d g e t s

Jabra Elite 65t true wireless earbuds? The Jabra Elite 65t is engineered for superior sound and brings together unique technological features to deliver best-in-class quality for voice and music. It is built to ensure a stable wireless connection and to deliver the best call and command (voice) quality. The innovative four microphone solution combined with an optimised acoustic chamber enables advanced noise suppression and voice enhancement for every type of environment. The earbuds also allow music to be personalised using a music equaliser accessed from the Jabra Sound+ companion application.

106

The Jabra Elite 65t combines a lightweight design for long-term comfort with up to 15 hours of battery life with the cradle and five hours of listening time in one charge making the earbuds the perfect everyday solution. Elite 65t will be available in ‘Titanium Black, ‘Copper Black’ and ‘Gold Beige’ color versions.

107

g a d g e t s

B l u e

SADIE PREMIUM HEADPHONES WITH B U I L T - I N A U D I O P H I L E A MP NEXT-GEN SOUND FOR LAPTOPS & MOBILE DEVICES

108

For 20 years, your favorite artists have used Blue microphones in the studio. Sadie is the evolution of the ultimate listening experience first pioneered by Blue’s groundbreaking Mo-Fi powered headphones. A built-in audiophile amp and custommatched 50mm dynamic drivers turn any laptop or mobile device into a custom hi-fi system. And by further refining Blue’s revolutionary fit and sonic soundstage, Sadie delivers even higher levels of performance to reveal new details in your favorite music.

109

g a d g e t s

Bang & Olufsen L at e N i g h t B l u e c o l l e c t i o n

Danish icon of sound and design, Bang & Olufsen, has released a Late Night Blue special edition of the E8 wireless earphones and A1 portable speaker. This new colourway takes inspiration from the deep blue hues of the ever-influential Jazz culture, music clubs and the flashing neon signs of the backstreets of New York City.

110

Following the previous Powder Pink and Racing Green editions, B&O’s newest Late Night Blue collection presents two iconic products in the vibrant colourway. The category-breaking A1 speaker, for those who care about great design and ultimate sound on-the-go, delivers 24 hours of performance and features dust-resistant design with premium aluminium and leather details. For a more intimate audio experience, Late Night Blue E8 wireless earphones are ergonomically engineered to sit comfortably in your ears, whilst delivering a rich, industry-leading sound. E8 earphones come in a premium leather case, representative of the wireless pod’s first-class anodized aluminium exterior.

111

g a d g e t s

FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL

– from £1,549

Whether you’re a gigging musician, lover of vintage-style design or a serious guitar collector, the American Original collection from iconic guitar brand Fender hits all the right notes. The American Original has been inspired by Fender models through the decades. Uniting classic 50s, 60s and 70s models with distinct modern features offering greater comfort, playability and best-in-class performance.

AMERICAN ORIGINAL '70S JAZZ BASS

AMERICAN ORIGINAL '60S STRATOCASTER

AMERICAN ORIGINAL '60S TELECASTER

£1,879.00

£1,639.00

£1,659.00

American Original '60s Jaguar® £1,639.00

Boasting 11 models and 13 colourways to match a variety of musical tastes and players, the American Original Series replaces the American Vintage Series, which was first introduced in 1982. With prices starting from £1,549, the American Originaleclectic guitars and basses are designed and handcrafted in Corona, California. Order now from shop.fender.com

112

wa t c h e s

j ewe l l e r y

s e rv o i r

116

Watches & Jewelery t pa

h ek p ilipp

120

lon qp

124

115

wa t c h e s

j ewe l l e r y

W I T N E SS OF T I ME A N D HI ST OR Y Taking its inspiration from the functionality and the aesthetic appeal of vintage measuring instruments, RESERVOIR is meant to be the reflection of eras full of cult objects, eras in which precision instruments were at the service of mankind. From automobile races with old cars to military aviation or the universe of submarines, measuring instruments are a source of inspiration both inexhaustible and powerful. The RESERVOIR collections are authentic allegories, traveling in the imaginary through the timepieces’ lines, materials and unique designs.

F R O M A M E T E R T O A W AT C H, A R A D IC A L W AY T O R E A D T I M E RESERVOIR timepieces are innovative for the radical way the time is displayed, which is achieved by drawing on three horological complications. The retrograde minute at 240° recalls the R.P.M. counters, the manometers and the depth gauges. The jumping hour recalls mileage meters and the power reserve display echoes the fuel and oil gauges. Precision, exactitude and reliability: this is all about measuring time, delivering performance and assessing risk factors. RESERVOIR is designed for all those who are questing for luxury: an object that materializes passion and enthusiasm unique to those who choose to assert themselves and to live the intensity of the moment as a real adventure.

116

MOVEME N T & SWI SS MA DE L A BEL RESERVOIR has joined forces with one of the most renowned Swiss watchmakers, specialized in designing high complication movements. A 124-component proprietary watchmaking module has been specially drawn up and patented. The module is powered by an ETA 2824-2 movement, widely acclaimed for its reliability and precision, oscillating at 28,800 alt./h. The RESERVOIR collection is a testament to the unique body of watchmaking knowledge that abides by the most stringent professional standards. It is at La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, that qualified watchmakers design, assemble and check the meticulously calibrated settings of RESERVOIR watches. The thoroughness and rigor put into the check ups, especially into the attention given to every single detail, allows the brand to proudly display the SWISS MADE label.

N ov elties Collec tion 20 1 8-20 1 9

GT T our THE DRIVER GLA NC E S AT THE R.P.M. ME TER… THE MIND I S F IRING The GT Tour adopts the codes of the ‘Classic’ car race. The limited edition GT Tour CARBON offers an even more radical version, with a forged carbon steel watch case and a «sandblast» finish dial that inspired by the coating of legendary automobile racetracks. Worn with an automobile leather style perforated black leather strap, this model with the black mat dial, the red hand and grey indexes is a tribute to the golden age of the car race. GT TOUR CARBON Limited edition 200 pieces Carbon case, black dial, racing leather strap Ref: RSV11.GT/530-11

5600€ including VAT

117

wa t c h e s

j ewe l l e r y

SUPERCHARGED A SINGLE OF A RAY OF LIGHT SHINE S ON THE C HROME Taking its inspiration from old cars with their classy lines and their sophisticated engines, the SUPERCHARGED model displays the materials’ elegance with a vintage finish. The RED ZONE exclusive extension is inspired by rev counters of the most sportive versions of these automobiles. SUPERCHARGED classic RED ZONE Steel case, white (classic) or black (sport) dial, black leather strap. RSV01.SC/130-21rz5 (white dial) RSV01.SC/130-12rz5 (black dial)

3750€ including VAT

118

AIRFIGHT AS HE REAC HE S HI S PEAK, THE SMOKE TRAILS CA RVE PATTERN S IN THE SKY The AIRFIGHT collection takes its inspiration from aircrafts, and centres on the black colour of the on-board fl ight instruments. It is enriched with a new model with a titanium, with a jumping hour aperture inspired by the designs of aircraft wings and cockpits. The black dials and super-luminova white hands are emblematic of the understated precision and hyperfunctionality of aeronautical instruments. AIRFIGHT TITANIUM Titanium watch case, black dial, super-luminova white index, black canvas strap. Ref: RSV02.AF/430-12

4300€ including VAT

TIEFENMESSER THE ME TA LLIC PING OF THE SONA R THROB S IN THE GLAC IA L SILE NC E The TIEFENMESSER collection takes its inspiration from the materials that feature so prominently in submarine equipment. The new yellow and black SEA HORNET limited edition is adorned with a black dial, a yellow hand on an index with a design close to depth gauges of post-war period’s American submarines. The power reserve here is displayed in the form of a mechanical gauge with a red or yellow background. This new submersible model is watertight to 50 metres. TIEFENMESSER SEA HORNET Limited edition 250 pieces Black PVD steel case, black dial, yellow index; black leather strap Ref: RSV13.TF/230-15

4300€ including VAT

119

wa t c h e s

j ewe l l e r y

Patek Philippe The new

Twenty

Automatic

A stylish companion for the life of modern, active women

Nearly 20 years after the debut of the Twenty~4® manchette watch that became a paragon of timeless feminine elegance, the Genevan manufacture is fulfilling a wish expressed by many discerning style-conscious women. To them, it is dedicating the all-new Twenty~4 Automatic, the first model of the collection with a self-winding mechanical movement in a round case. This highly contemporary watch was created to accompany eclectic and vibrant lifestyles around the clock, glistening with the fire of genuine diamonds. It is available in stainless steel or rose gold with dials of various colors.

120

{

Since the company was founded in 1839, Patek Philippe has devoted much attention to its feminine clientele. With its pocket and pendant watches, lavishly decorated with refined artisanal techniques, the brand won the hearts of sophisticated female customers, among them Queen Victoria who had purchased a timepiece in blue enamel in 1851. The manufacture also leveraged its creative skills with a host of complicated ladies’ watches, including precious minute repeaters. In 1868, Patek Philippe crafted the first Swiss-made wristwatch for a Hungarian countess. The manufacture’s first strikework wristwatch in 1916 was a ladies’ timepiece with a five-minute repeater. A growing demand for wristwatches during the art deco epoch gave the brand an opportunity to demonstrate its affinity with female tastes by crafting countless models with different shapes and decorations.

In 1999, Patek Philippe responded to the expectations of a young, dynamic generation with the very feminine Twenty~4® that became resoundingly successful. Its unusual name reflects the fact that it was a perfect companion for any time of day or night. The manchette watch was endowed with a quartz movement (except the 2003 Haute Joaillerie model with a manually wound mechanical movement); it came in various stainless steel versions and in gold as well. The manufacture also anticipated the growing interest among women in mechanical timepieces by developing various complicated mechanical ladies’ watches such as the moon-phase model or the Ladies First Chronograph (2009). This selection was enriched with the Annual Calendar for ladies, the grand complications such as the Ladies First Minute Repeater, Calatrava watches in jewelry and Haute Joaillerie versions as well as the feminine interpretations of the manufacture’s casually elegant classics – the Nautilus Dames and the Aquanaut Luce. A new feminine watch with a self-winding mechanical movement

121

wa t c h e s

{

j ewe l l e r y

Patek Philippe is reinforcing its position in the growing segment of mechanical ladies’ watches and now presents a new self-winding wristwatch: the Twenty~4 Automatic. It is a timepiece for modern, self-confident women with taste who are decision-makers and pursue active lifestyles. With its sleek elegance, it is a watch for any time of day, complementing every facet of daily life (work, family, private and social engagements, leisure). It perfectly matches the entire spectrum of a lady’s wardrobe – from outdoor outfits to evening gowns. The watch focuses on the woman who consummately handles latest-generation technology but prefers a mechanical timepiece on her wrist, one that represents a grand tradition of quality and the lasting value of an artistically crafted masterpiece. The caliber 324 S C was Patek Philippe’s choice as the heart of the new feminine model. This self-winding movement with a Spiromax® balance spring in Silinvar® is a gem of precision and dependability. It is crafted to the strict standards of the Patek Philippe Seal and exhibits elaborate manual finissage (such as chamfered and polished edges and Geneva striping) that can be admired through the sapphire-crystal case back. Launched in Milan during a major international event on October 10 and 11, 2018, the Twenty~4 Automatic is supported by a dedicated advertising campaign with an extensive presence in digital channels.

A sleek but complex case The new Twenty~4 Automatic adopts the aesthetic appeal of the rectangular Twenty~4 with an exclusive bracelet featuring gently cambered central links framed by delicate two-tier outside links. With a supple fit, inimitable and elegant, it gently hugs the wrist. The self-winding version stands out with a totally new round case (36 mm in diameter) featuring prominent yet subtle contours. And as always in Patek Philippe creations, puristic style melds with highly refined details. An example: the beveled, diamond-set bezel is an elaborate construction that echoes the profile of the central bracelet links at 12 and 6 o'clock, emphasizing the harmony of the overall design. This precious ensemble is crafted in the manufacture’s ateliers and complies with all of the craftsmanship standards prescribed by the Patek Philippe Seal. The case and bezel are cold-formed in high-tonnage presses and then carefully machined to refine the contours. Afterwards, they are manually polished by experts with years of experience, an extremely demanding task given the complex forms especially in the bracelet lug zones. The dials exhibit assertive personalities. They are uncluttered and readily legible, with applied Arabic numerals in gold as well as baton hands with rounded ends and luminous coatings. The slightly domed sapphire-crystal glass underscores the sculpted profile of the case.

Five convincing versions The Twenty~4 Automatic is available in five versions: two in steel with diamond-set bezels, two in rose gold with diamond-set bezels, and one in rose gold with diamonds set in the bezel, the bracelet, and the crown. The “Dentelle” (lacework style) gemsetting technique produces two-row configurations of offset precious stones that highlight their radiance. All diamonds – immaculately cut flawless Top Wesselton grade – comply with the directives of the Patek Philippe Seal and are set to the most exacting jewelers’ standards.

122

The version in stainless steel comes in two dial colors that endow each model with its very own characteristic style: sunburst blue (Ref. 7300/1200A-001) or sunburst gray, delicately gradated from the center (Ref. 7300/1200A-010). The rose-gold watches are also available in two color combinations: a sunburst chocolate brown and gradated dial (Ref. 7300/1200R-001) or a silvery gray dial graced with an exclusive double horizontal and vertical satin finish that is reminiscent of precious wild Shantung silk (Ref. 7300/1200R-010). The Ref. 7300/1201R-001 is for ladies who prefer a “dressier” watch. It is lavishly adorned with 469 diamonds for a total of about 1.88 ct, including the crown, the lugs, and the outer links of the bracelet. The dial stands out with its silvery Shantung finish. All bracelets are fitted with a new patented fold-over clasp (Patent EP3162241B1) that is dependably functional, very comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing. With its artisanally crafted self-winding mechanical movement and the decidedly feminine timeless design, the new Twenty~4 Automatic has everything it takes to accompany style-conscious and self-confident women day in and day out. Today and tomorrow.

123

wa t c h e s

j ewe l l e r y

Saatchi Gallery, London – 22-24 November 2018 22nd November to 24th November 2018 saw SalonQP open its doors once agin at London’s Saatchi Gallery for its 10th editon. Bringing the world of fine watches to life through a series of curated exhibitions, live talks and exclusive soirées, SalonQP played host to a wonderful collection of exhibiting watch brands - from illustrious international names to the most selective independent ateliers. SalonQP also brought visitors face-to-face with expert talks and panel debates with guest speakers including auction and vintage experts: Adrian Hailwood, Chris Youé and Toby Sutton and design experts Christoph Behling and Marco Borracino. Talks delved into the history of military Panerai, the famed Dirty Dozen watches and the modern phenomenon of vintage Heuer with Justin Hast, Simon de Burton and Kristian Haagen discussing the highs of the past year within the watch industry in an exclusive talk as part of the Friday Night Late evening which also saw guest DJ Nick Grimshaw take to the decks in the SalonQP lounge. As part of its evolution, the 2018 experience also saw the introduction of some new luxury lifestyle features and exhibitors hosted in the Harper’s Bazaar Salon gallery. Including jewellery, luxury accessories and fine wines from Kiki McDonough, William & Son, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin and Armit Wines.

124

The Highlights of 2018

125

wa t c h e s

j ewe l l e r y

THE HIG HLIGHTS:

Birchall and Taylor

Canadian watchmaking duo Brad Taylor and Charles Birchall chose SalonQP to launch their own brand, Birchall & Taylor. The WOSTEP-trained watchmakers set up their own Toronto-based company after stints working with Roger Smith among other things. The 38mm stainless steel watch uses a Vaucher micro-rotor movement and a crisp white enamel dial courtesy of Swiss specialists, Donze Cadrans. www.birchallandtaylor.com

126

Bovet Recital 22 Grand Recital

Officially the greatest watch in the world, at least according to the jury of the GPHG, Bovet’s Recital 22 Grand Recital wowed visitors with its hidden perpetual calendar and tellurium mechanism, which accurately illustrates the current position of the sun, moon and earth. www.bovet.com/timepiece/dimier-recital-22-grand-recital

127

wa t c h e s

j ewe l l e r y

La Colonne du Temps

One of the surprises of the show was a collaboration between Yorkshire-based clockmakers Robert Bray - Sinclair Harding and famed Swiss watch designer Jorg Hysek. The vertical column 8 Day clock displays time digitally, with a white LED-style readout represented mechanically against the black case. www.hysek-design.com/en/produit/la-colonne-du-temps

Vertex MP45

Vertex debuted a new monopusher chronographer at SalonQP, based on a watch originally commissioned by the Ministry of Defence in 1945 and developed in partnership with Lemania. The first iteration of Vertex was unable to deliver that watch because of post-war restrictions but current boss Don Cochrane, great grandson of founder Claude Lyons, has revisited that concept. www.vertex-watches.com/mp45

128

Kimberly Burnell at Showcase Hire provided all the luxury showcases.

129

wa t c h e s

j ewe l l e r y

Jewellery Not only were fine jewellery and jewellery watches represented by Kiki McDonough, William & Son, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Vacheron Constantin in the Bazaar Salon, a gallery curated by sister title Harper’s Bazaar, but individual approaches to jewellery techniques and crafts in watchmaking were exhibited by two brands making their debut at SalonQP 2018; Scottish enamel dial specialist anOrdain and Murano glass-cased watch brand YUNIK.

130

ley ho

e s

p r o p e r t y

134

133

p r o p e r t y

Berkeley Homes New Year New Home: Move into a luxury Berkeley home in West London this New Year Combining meticulous design, an exceptional specification and a choice of desirable locations across leafy West London, Berkeley’s homes offer the best of convenience and luxury living. With a number of homes ready to move into, buyers can find themselves entering the New Year in a superb new home.

134

Just two homes remain at The Villas, a stunning collection of seven elegant five-bedroom townhouses located in the heart of the sought-after London village of Barnes. Each of these luxury homes extends to over 3,000 sq ft, is arranged over four floors and includes five bedrooms, as well as a beautifully landscaped large garden and private underground parking for two cars. Residents can enjoy the local boutiques, an array of restaurants and independent coffee bars. In Barnes Village, the weekly Farmers’ Market is extremely popular, offering a range of local artisan produce. The village’s picturesque green spaces, Barnes Pond and Barnes Common Nature Reserve provide the ideal place for outdoor activities and sports. Ideal for commuters, trains reach Clapham Junction in just 12 minutes from Barnes station, which is only a seven-minute walk from The Villas. Prices start from £3,599,000 for a five-bedroom home.

135

p r o p e r t y

Richmond Chase Richmond Chase is nestled in an idyllic location on the edge of the village of Ham and bordered by the ancient woodland of Richmond Park, offering a rare opportunity to buy a new family house in this quiet pocket of London. Delivering expansive living space ranging from 1,658 to 2,525 sq ft and a private garden, all the homes are designed with an impeccable attention to detail matched by a high-quality specification.

136

While residents will enjoy the tranquillity of its rural setting, Richmond Chase is also almost equidistant to both Kingston’s vibrant town centre, and Richmond’s charming boutiques, restaurants and bistros. Richmond Park’s acres of ancient woodland and meadows offer a countryside retreat and the chance to spot the park’s famous deer, as well as an array of sporting activities. Prices start from £1,480,000 for a three-bedroom home.

137

p r o p e r t y

New Year New Home: Move into a luxury Berkeley home in West London this New Year

Wimbledon Hill Park

Wimbledon Hill Park, located on the desirable Copse Hill and against a backdrop of meadows and parkland, is set in the grounds of what was once the 2nd Duke of Wellington’s ancestral residence. The development comprises a collection of two and three-bedroom luxury apartments all of which benefit from a balcony or terrace, together with a range of amenities, including a residents’ gym, library, private cinema room, concierge service and boardroom.

138

Wimbledon Village offers residents an array of boutique shops, bars and restaurants. The sought-after area is world renowned for its famous tennis tournament, while The Royal Wimbledon Golf Club is located in the centre of Wimbledon Common and Wimbledon RFC is home to one of the country’s oldest rugby clubs. Wimbledon Common provides opportunities for cycling, cricket, walking and running. Prices start from £1,050,000 for a two-bedroom apartment

139

p r o p e r t y

Queenshurst Queenshurst is a dynamic development, situated near the centre of the vibrant market town of Kingston. The development comprises a stylish collection of apartments. Influenced by the design of London’s charming garden squares, the new homes at Queenshurst are set around a private landscaped courtyard. Residents also benefit from a concierge, gym, business suite and cinema room. The homes are situated just a five minutes’ walk from Kingston railway station, from which services reach London Waterloo in 30 minutes. Less than 10 minutes’ walk from the development there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy drinks or a meal with friends on the banks of the picturesque Thames, while Canbury Gardens provides the perfect place to walk, cycle or enjoy a picnic by the river. Prices start from £450,000 for a one-bedroom apartment with Help to Buy now available on a selection of properties. To visit any of Berkeley’s West London homes, please call 020 3675 1501 to book a private appointment with one of their team of expert advisers.

140

Chelsea Showroom, 115 Fulham Road, SW3 6RL chelsea@hastensstores.com +44 02072250974 / (0)2072252998

Hästens Store London, Fitzrovia, 66-68 Margaret Street, W1W 8SR sales@hastensamersham.com +44 20 7436 0646 / +44 20 7436 0654

Hästens Beds Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7XL hastens.harrods@hastens.com +44 (0)207 225 6748

d o n e

d e a l

nsightful, enlightening and thought-provoking, leading Premier League lawyer Daniel Geey lifts the lid on the inner workings of modern football.

Publishers Bloomsbury

Whether it is a manager being sacked, the signing of a new star player, television rights negotiations, player misconduct or multi-million-pound club takeovers, lawyers remain at the heart of all football business dealings. Written by leading Premier League lawyer Daniel Geey, who has dealt with all these incidents first hand, this highly accessible book explores the issues – from pitch to boardroom – that shape the modern game and how these impact leagues, clubs, players and fans. Featuring insider anecdotes and expert contributions, Done Deal provides football fans with a fresh and authoritative perspective on all off-field football matters.

Hardback £16.99 24th January 2019

143

144

t r ave l

nseeker

146

zela

152

ldives

150

Ta s t

156

145

t r ave l

Sunse e k e r moves into aluminium built yachts in partnership with

Icon Yachts

146

Latent demand for even larger Sunseeker yachts is driving force behind the brand’s move into metal-built vessels

n a truly momentous step, Sunseeker International has announced plans to move into the world of metal-built yachts as it looks to capitalise on its success in the superyacht market and the demand it sees from owners for even larger Sunseeker vessels. This exciting development will see the British brand partner with renowned Dutch builders, ICON Yachts, to produce a new 49-metre yacht, the first of which will launch in 2021.

147

t r ave l

This new venture moves the brand into a completely different method of build for the first time in its 50-year history, but the idea behind this move is certainly not a recent one as Sunseeker International Sales Director, Sean Robertson explains: “We have wanted to build larger vessels for some time; we know there is demand there for larger Sunseeker yachts as the 155 Yacht proved. The decision to stop building that model was a commercial one based on space and capacity and certainly not due to lack of demand, so we knew we needed to rethink our approach to this size of vessel and have spent considerable time looking at various opportunities.

partners, including the company’s current Chief Executive Officer, Jen Wartena. Rather than building unique, one-off custom superyachts that would require three or more years to design and construct, ICON Yachts developed a groundbreaking ‘blueprint’ hull which allows owners to fully customise their yachts from the waterline up. ICON has more than delivered on this concept, producing several superyachts to date within exceptionally short build times, and in the two-year range. In addition, ICON is dedicated to maintaining one of the greenest shipyards in the yachting industry, outfitting each yacht it builds with equipment to help reduce her environmental impact.

“A move into metal also means there is no ceiling as to how big we can go in the future, but obviously this requires different expertise and so it was essential to find the right partner to support the project. Finding experience and expertise in metal build was not the issue. Finding a yard that shared the same progressive, innovative spirit to create something truly special and, most importantly, one which will provide us with the flexibility to build a true Sunseeker was the challenge. We have certainly found all of that with ICON.”

Jen Wartena, CEO of ICON Yachts, comments: “There is a great synergy between ICON and Sunseeker because we are combining both of our strengths; our capacity and metal yacht building capabilities with Sunseeker’s sales expertise and marketing power. I am confident about the partnership because for the past few years there has been a high demand for Dutch pedigree yachts in this size range. We believe the Sunseeker by ICON will revolutionise the industry in a positive way. It is an exciting period for ICON Yachts and this new partnership with Sunseeker is part of our ongoing growth strategy where we are investing heavily in facilities and people to improve our capability and capacity.”

ICON Yachts was founded in late 2005 by Ton Van Dam and a group of investors. The founders were then joined by business

148

The new yacht will be built in the ICON yard in the Netherlands using a proven fast displacement hull design, but the naval architecture, design and engineering will be unmistakably Sunseeker. Sean Robertson explains: “This will certainly not be a badge engineering exercise. We are an established superyacht brand in our own right and so we are merely combining the metal build expertise of ICON with our design DNA, technical expertise and market knowhow. She will absolutely be a Sunseeker.” Sunseeker’s first foray into the superyacht market came with the introduction of the now iconic 105 Yacht in 2001. Since then, Britain’s biggest boat builder has seen unprecedented growth in the sector, delivering more than 125 yachts over 100 feet and firmly placing the Poole-based builder in the top three superyacht builders in the world. This new partnership with ICON is the

next stage in that remarkable growth story and will be marketed and sold by Sunseeker under the “Sunseeker by ICON” nomenclature. The new 49m tri-deck yacht follows the iconic Sunseeker exterior lines and offers exceptional space and volume, with an interior that can be styled to each owner’s unique taste via Sunseeker’s unique ‘Bespoke’ service. The theme throughout is one of space and flexibility, maximising volume and providing compelling features to enhance enjoyment on board. Many of these features are usually only associated with much larger craft including the plunge pool on the main deck and the exceptional beach club with drop down bulwarks and transom to create an incredible space for relaxing or entertaining close to the water. Standard guest configuration is for 10 guests in five cabins, with scope for up to 12 to be accommodated depending upon layout chosen and hull #1 is due for launch in Spring 2021.

149

t r ave l

T h e N e wly O p e n e d

Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, Maldives

(10-hour direct flight with BA)

M 150

arriott International announced the opening of The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort on 12th October 2018. Nestled on a beautiful coral island in the Baa Atoll, a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve site, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort features 70 villas and suites, 41 on island and 29 overwaters. Poised over the sea on stilts and with an area of almost 200 square meters each, the overwater suites are amongst the largest a resort has to offer in the Baa Atoll region. Assembled by award-winning Milan-based architects PEIA Associati, the resort’s design takes inspiration from the ocean with a visionary approach towards environmental sustainability.

The idyllic resort also features Westin’s signature branded spa concept, the Heavenly Spa by Westin™, the 24-hour WestinWORKOUT® fitness center and the Westin Kids Club®. Nightly rates at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort starts from £608/800 Dollars for two people on a B&B basis. For more information or to book visit westin.com/maldivesmiriandhoo.

151

r e s t a u r a n t s

BIZAN RESTAURANT

ZELA

TO LAUNCH IN LONDON Stars of sport and entertainment to launch Japanese influenced Mediterranean restaurant

T 152

his Autumn, ZELA restaurant will be jetting in to London with a unique blend of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine, craft cocktails and slick service with Ibizan beats. ZELA London follows ZELA Ibiza, the acclaimed flagship restaurant which launched in May 2017 in the prestigious Marina Botafoch neighbourhood on the White Isle. ZELA’s London home will be in the vibrant West End, with a 100-cover restaurant at the ME London Hotel on The Strand in Covent Garden. The restaurant is owned by MABEL Hospitality and VIP partners from the world of entertainment and sport; Cristiano Ronaldo, Enrique Iglesias, Rafael Nadal and Pau Gasol. MABEL Hospitality is headed up by Spanish entrepreneurs Manuel Campos Guallar and Abel Matutes, also founders of the Spanish restaurant TATEL, which has sites in Madrid, Ibiza, and Miami and is soon to launch in Beverly Hills.

ZELA’s cuisine is led by acclaimed Michelin starred chef Ricardo Sanz, as gastronomic director, whom together with TATEL culinary team has created the Meppon cuisine; Japanese techniques and flavours applied to Mediterranean products and traditions. The menu offers an abundance of fresh fish and seafood from the Mediterranean; ZELA’s own style of raw dishes includes tatakis, tartars, sashimi, sushi, gyozas and tiraditos among others. Signatures include scallops with Ibizan sobrasada and butterfish nigiri with white truffle. Meppon influences can be found in dishes such as Iberico pork gyoza, usuzukuri toro pa amb tomaquet (thinly sliced tuna belly sashimi with grated tomato, olive oil and breadcrumbs and 48-hour braised Wagyu teriyaki. ZELA London will also offer a wide variety of breakfast to please all. From healthy, traditional continental, and English breakfasts to the signature ZELA breakfast which has Japanese influence including miso soup, pickles and nori. Alternative set menus and an extensive a la carte selection will also be available.

153

r e s t a u r a n t s

When it comes to drinks, ZELA has created a menu of cocktails which harmoniously balance Asian ingredients with the zest of the Mediterranean such as Santa Maria (sherry wine, homemade spice mix, tomato, basil) and Harakiri (sake, lime, egg white, shiso syrup). The wine list has a focus on Spanish wines, plus a handpicked selection of premium sakes. The restaurant interiors have been designed by Diego Gronda studio. Key features include an abundance of lush greenery throughout the dining room, booth seating in original arch windows, a sushi bar and a stunning cocktail bar which runs the length of the restaurant. Finishing touches take influence from Spain with intricate floor tiling, bamboo furniture and palm print walls. By day, the large windows will flood the space with natural light while come evening; lighting will be kept low to create a sultry ambiance as the DJ begins to spin.

154

Quotes from VIP partners: Cristiano Ronaldo comments “ZELA is one of my favourite Asian restaurants in the world, I go there with my friends and family whenever I am in Ibiza and I’m delighted to open it in London now. The blend of Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine, with familiar flavours and a fresh and healthy touch, really matches my lifestyle”.

Rafael Nadal said “I am happy with our new opening of ZELA London, we truly enjoy this mix of Japanese Mediterranean very much. I can’t wait to have my first dinner there”.

Enrique Iglesias adds “ZELA is all about great food, excellent cocktails and music in a vibrant atmosphere – It’s always a great night out. We are bringing a touch of Ibiza to London and I’m very excited to dine in ZELA London in a few weeks when I’m in town!”.

Francesco Sica (former GM of Coya) will be the General Manager of ZELA London. Sica comments “I’m delighted to be part of this amazing project and bring ZELA and MEPPON cuisine to London, a city that has proved itself as the dining capital of the world. The diversity of London´s culinary scene provides an exciting opportunity for ZELA to showcase our take on Japanese meets Mediterranean cuisine.” ZELA is set to make its mark on the city’s culinary and nightlife map, for London’s foodies and the international jet-set alike, with its exotic menus and vibrant atmosphere with a touch of Mediterranean flare. www.zelarestaurants.com ZELA LONDON ME London Hotel 336 – 337 Strand London WC2R 1HA Nearest tube: Temple, Charing Cross, Embankment, Covent Garden

Pau Gasol comments “London is one of my favourite cities in Europe. Now, with our new ZELA restaurant, I have one more reason to visit it! I truly hope London will appreciate our cuisine, a blend of Japan and our Mediterranean sea”.

155

r e s t a u r a n t s

Pep Guardiola, Ferran Soriano, Paco Pérez, Txiki Begiristain

156

ANCHESTER CITY’S Spanish contingent have already been busy changing the face of football in the Premier League – now they are turning their attention to the lifestyle market.

Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano have been in place at the Etihad Stadium for a while overseeing the overhaul at City which has seen the club become the envy of many across Europe. The appointment of their former Barcelona colleague Pep Guardiola as manager has seen the City team evolve into one of the strongest in Europe, while off the pitch the infrastructure is now in place to ensure the club are on a sound footing to maintain their position for generations to come. Now the trio with the Catalans connection have teamed up to invest in a new restaurant in Manchester aiming to introduce a taste of home to the North-West. Guardiola, Begiristain and Soriano have all invested in a personal capacity into Tast Cuina Catalana, where renowned international Michelin star chef Paco Perez will be executive chef. Pérez is the renowned international patron-chef of two Michelin 2* restaurants - Miramar, in Llançà, (Girona) and Enoteca at the Arts Hotel in Barcelona, a city where he has six restaurants in all. He is also behind the Michelin 1* Restaurant Cinco at the Hotel Das Stue in Berlin. The head chef at Tast is Miquel Villacrosa, 27, formerly head chef at Restaurant Cinco after seven years working unde Perez, including a year in the kitchen at Miramar. Translated, Tast Cuina Catalana means Taste from the Catalan Kitchen – and the restaurant is aiming to

serve up food and drink from the region of which the City trio are so proud to promote across the world. A pre-opening launch party for Tast was held in July, where the City threesome and Perez introduced their new venture, which will see multi-Michelin star chef Paco Pérez play his first executive chef role in the UK. Despite Pérez’s record, Tast is not pursuing awards, but will simply create a warm and friendly atmosphere for anyone wishing to experience the best of Catalan food and drink. As well as serving traditional Catalan starters and mains, the Tast menu offers ‘tastets’ – small portions and nibbles to savour and to share. Party guests were served Paco’s favourite selection from the menu of authentic Catalan tastets, including Ou d’Ànec, Xipirons I Salsa Tàrtara (duck egg, baby calamari, potato, tartare sauce) and Arròs de Bosc Arròs de Bosc (mushrooms, old cow sirloin, padron peppers). A dessert of Xuixo De Crema I Xocolata (puff pastry, custard, dark chocolate) and a Catalan cheeseboard are on offer, while the Catalan wine list includes Anna Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Codorníu on arrival, a Perfum, Can Sumoi, Penedès 2017 and a Les Sorts Jove, Celler Masroig, Montsant 2017. Tast has 120-covers over three floors, with Pinya, a casual dining and bar area on the ground floor; Folre, a first-floor dining room with open kitchen; and a second floor Enxaneta, with private dining rooms offering a tasting menu.

157

r e s t a u r a n t s

Sandra Martorell with Pep Guardiola.

Paco Pérez says: “We are delighted to bring the Catalan cuisine to Manchester and to be part of the amazing team behind Tast. We are going back to our Catalan roots, with traditional cooking with an open kitchen, where you can see and smell the cooking and you can feel at home. Tast is an ‘easy’ restaurant where everyone is welcome.” Sandra Martorell, Director of Tast Group, said: “We Catalan people are passionate about food and tradition. With Tast we want to introduce our guests to the traditional flavours of our Catalan cuisine and wine, all in a relaxed atmosphere and with a welcoming team.” Tast Cuina Catalana opened in Manchester on Friday July 20th. Investors Pep Guardiola, Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano join Catalan chef Paco Pérez to celebrate new addition to Manchester’s restaurant scene A pre-opening launch party for ‘Tast’ restaurant in Manchester on Thursday 12th July 2018 was an authentic celebration of Catalan food and wine. The new venture, backed by Pep Guardiola, Txiki Begiristain and Ferran

158

Soriano in personal capacities, sees multi-Michelin star chef Paco Pérez play his first executive chef role in the UK. Pérez is the renowned international patron-chef of two Michelin 2* restaurants - Miramar, in Llançà, (Girona) and Enoteca at the Arts Hotel in Barcelona, a city where he has six restaurants in all. He is also behind the Michelin 1* Restaurant Cinco at the Hotel Das Stue in Berlin. The head chef at Tast is Miquel Villacrosa, 27, formerly head chef at Restaurant Cinco after seven years working under Paco Perez, including a year in the kitchen at Miramar. The party was attended by very special guests including Manchester City assistant coaches Mikel Arteta and Brian Kidd and former Manchester City player Mike Summerbee. Dignitaries attending included the former Chief Executive of Manchester City Council Sir Howard Bernstein; the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester Dame Nancy Rothwell; and BBC TV presenter Naga Munchetty.

Despite Paco Pérez’s record, Tast is not pursuing awards, but will simply create a warm and friendly atmosphere for anyone wishing to experience the best of Catalan food and drink. As well as serving traditional Catalan starters and mains, the Tast menu offers ‘tastets’ – small portions and nibbles to savour and to share. Party guests were served Paco’s favourite selection from the menu authentic Catalan tastets served at the party included Ou d’Ànec, Xipirons I Salsa Tàrtara (duck egg, baby calamari, potato, tartare sauce) and Arròs de Bosc Arròs de Bosc (mushrooms, old cow sirloin, padron peppers), followed by dessert of Xuixo De Crema I Xocolata (puff pastry, custard, dark chocolate) and a Catalan cheeseboard. Guests were served Catalan wines - Anna Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Codorníu on arrival, and to accompany the dishes, a Perfum, Can Sumoi, Penedès 2017 and a Les Sorts Jove, Celler Masroig, Montsant 2017. Tast Cuina Catalana, roughly translates into English as ‘Taste from the Catalan Kitchen.’ Tast has 120-covers over three floors, with Pinya, a casual dining and bar area on the ground floor; Folre, a first-floor dining room with open kitchen; and a second floor Enxaneta, with private dining rooms offering a tasting menu. Paco Pérez says: “We are delighted to bring the Catalan cuisine to Manchester and to be part of the amazing team

behind Tast. We are going back to our Catalan roots, with traditional cooking with an open kitchen, where you can see and smell the cooking and you can feel at home. Tast is an ‘easy’ restaurant where everyone is welcome.” Sandra Martorell, Director of Tast Group, said: “We Catalan people are passionate about food and tradition. With Tast we want to introduce our guests to the traditional flavours of our Catalan cuisine and wine, all in a relaxed atmosphere and with a welcoming team.” Along with the fast-expanding numbers of people living in the city, the eating out scene in Manchester city centre is experiencing strong growth, with a 37% increase in the number of restaurants in the last five years. Operators of Tast are the independent Fazenda group, whose directors’ passion for South American cuisine has made their award-winning ‘rodizio’ grilled meat restaurants in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester (and recent Edinburgh opening) a great popular success. Fazenda director Tomas Maunier says: “We are hugely excited to be working with these amazing creative talents. Catalonia has a distinctive identity and culture from that of Spain and we will be introducing people to its wonderful tastes and flavours. It was with great pleasure that we laid on a classic Catalan welcome for our guests. Paco has a massive reputation and we will serve some of his and Pep’s favourite Catalan dishes, both traditional and with innovative modern twists.”

159

h e a l t h

o zo n e

163

161

h e a l t h

Ozone Stop the clock: optimising health as we age

key question for any footballer or physical therapist has to be: how do older players manage their high training loads and prevent injury? The average squad at the World Cup was mid to late 20s; however, there are many examples of professional players excelling well into their mid to late thirties, including Schalke’s Naldo and Juventus’s Andrea Barzagli. (Barzagli’s former team-mate, star- goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, recently celebrated his fortieth birthday.) Manchester United’s 36 year old Michael Carrick is set to retire this year in favour of a coaching role, saying: “There comes a time when your body tells you it is time to stop.” However, this ‘time’ obviously varies from player to player, and their role in the squad.

163

h e a l t h

ACL injuries Anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL injuries (tears to the ligaments connecting the thigh bone to shin bone), are said to be among the most common causes of player lay-offs. LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic received this injury aged 35 (when playing for Manchester United). However, studies on risk factors and prevention of ACLs are still inconclusive. In the 2016 paper ‘The training-injury prevention paradox: should athletes be training smarter and harder?’, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the authors stated that ‘Well-developed physical qualities are associated with a reduced risk of injury.’ A paper titled ‘Risk factors for sports injuries — a methodological approach’ in the same title declared that injury prevention is key. ‘The [current] risks associated with minor, moderate, and major acute injuries [are] unacceptable. Preventing injuries [may be more important than treatment].

164

The benefits of ozone Ozone (triatomic oxygen) injections have been used to target specific problems such as knee injuries, reportedly by players including Cristiano Ronaldo. However, injections may be perceived to be too invasive. Hence, players may benefit from the use of an ozone sauna cabinet to aid performance and recovery, or to target a specific area or injury. In fact, an ozone sauna could be the ideal tool to help future proof players’ bodies as they age, because ozone: Increases tissue oxygenation, for optimal tissue and cell health. Reduces and oxidises lactic acid. Increases production of ATP (boosting recovery) Reduces swelling and pain from injuries.

Ozone improves cellular utilisation of oxygen, and causes the release of growth factors that stimulate damaged joints and degenerative discs to regenerate. In the book ‘The New Oxygen Prescription: The Miracle of Oxidative Therapies’, author Nathaniel Altman proposes that: ‘Through [the] use of ozone (O3) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) - we can assist the body in generating the oxygen needed to oxidate weak tissue cells, so stronger cells take their place.’ An ozone steam sauna (whereby ozone is introduced transdermally, via the skin) is said to help increase the capacity for endurance, as our bodies age; therapeutic ozone introduces protective enzymes that can reverse inflammatory oxidative stress.

Preventing injury via optimised health HOCATT ™ ozone steam chambers are ideal for home use and in the preventative injury setting - they’re multi-functional, also providing settings for Carbonic Acid Therapy, Electrotherapy, Far-Infrared, Photon light therapy and PEMF, or Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy. (The latest Platinum model even comes with a stand-alone HUGO™ unit - a High-Intensity PEMF device with mats and accessories). Current research indicates that PEMF can aid bone metabolism. (Interestingly, a study is underway at the National University Hospital in Singapore, using individuals who have undergone ACL reconstruction surgery, to assess the benefits of PEMF - expect the results toward the end of 2018.)

Regular sessions in an ozone steam sauna cabinet, combined with targeted PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy, could be the ideal way to help prevent injury, for an older player. Individuals interested in installing a HOCATT™ ozone steam sauna in their home should visit www.ozone-therapy.co.uk for contact details; the units also have many wellness and beauty benefits, such as enhanced circulation collagen synthesis. Hence, the ozone sauna units are also ideal for any image-conscious individuals.

165

d i r e c t o r y

Directory Berkeley Homes www.berkeleygroup.com

Sunseeker www.sunseeker.com

Watches of Switzerland www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

AG Fine Products www.agfineproducts.com

166

Alexander James Interior Design www.aji.co.uk

Fair FX Currency www.fairfx.com/exchange-rates

Patek Philippe www.patek.com

David Morris www.davidmorris.com

Perfectly Attired www.perfectlyattired.co.uk

167

d pi rr eo cp teorrt yy

Blackphone www.blackphone.co.uk

Quintessentially www.quintessentially/com

Hastens Beds www.hastens.com

The Luxury Network www.theluxurynetwork.co.uk

Bellis Homes www.bellishomes.co.uk

Stonehealth Clinic www.stonehealthclinic.co.uk

168

Thule www.thule.com

Stowers Savile Row www.stowers.london

AZLuxe VIP Cars www.azluxe.co.uk

Nike www.nike/uk/official

Gaga Milano www.gagamilano.com

169

fo o t b a l l e r s

Issue

l i fe

In this Edition a Special thanks to Mick Budnyj Max Nilov Paul Duck Barry Brooks Sean Hunter Tony Simmons

Duncan Pratt

Craig Boyland

Fraser Reid

Founder / Editor in Chief

David Cronin

Designer

Legal Advisor

Sub Editor

David de Vries

Nathalie Bradbury

Deborah Arthurs

Marcio Quintela

Art Director

Quintessentially Editor

Lifestyle Director

Fashion Advisor

info@footballerslife.com | sales@footballerslife.com members@footballerslife.com | Phone Number: 07720 844210

Footballers Life Ltd. cannot accept responsibilty for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken prices and details are subject to change, and Footballers Life Ltd. takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without Publishers permission is strictly prohibited. Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication is correct at the time of going to press, we cannot accept any responsibilty for any loss or innconvenience however caused.

170

Footballers Life Issue 10

Articles inside

Foreign Affairs

Mesut Özil