Footballers Life Issue 12 by Footballers' Life

Footballers’ Life Magazine

Issue 12 €21.00 - £20.00

A d v i c e

L u x u r y

w w w. f o o t b a lle r s lif e.c o m I n s t a : @ f o o t b a l le r s lif e ma ga z in e

L i f e s t y l e

Tax Investigations

Greubel Forsey Watches

Inter Miami

Rising

Stars 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

Duncan Swift

Duncan Wright

Chief Stylist - Louis Vuitton

Journalist

Partner - Moore Stephens

Journalist

Fraser Reid

Chris Paget

Alex Harvey

Partner Sheridan’s Lawyers

Partner - Level Law

Sports Lawyer

Deborah Arthurs

Max Nilov

Lewis Marsden

Lifestyle Director

Art Advisor

Journalist

Daniel Geey

Ray James Head of Operations iSportsconnect

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

Welcome to the 12th edition of Footballers’ Life Magazine

Welcome also, to the new footballing world full of challenges posed by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Duncan Edward Pratt

Founder / Editor in chief

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

When the team and I planned ahead at the start of the year for the next set of issues, we had envisaged this issue to be a reflection on the completed footballing season as well as the major excitement of Euro 2020. Instead we find ourselves and many of our leagues across Europe still focussed on the current season with numerous titles, promotions, and relegations to fight for. Despite the challenges we have all faced since March, I am delighted to present to you our latest version, which for the first time in our history will also be available digitally as well as in print hard copy. This edition takes a look at the next generation of world superstars, all of whom have lit up their respective leagues across Europe as well as on the international stage. Mbappe, Sancho, Haaland, Joao Felix and Alexander-Arnold look ready to take over the crown from the likes of Messi and Ronaldo. As always this edition is packed full of fantastic insights into the footballing world, the latest gadgets, fashion, cars and properties. I hope you enjoy. Best wishes, Duncan

c o n t e n t s

52-53

Contents 14-19

David Bec kha m

I nter M iami

54-55

38-41

Pa ul H all

ARSENE W en ger

R i s i n g Sta rs

Q P R u n d er - 23 M anager

new F ifa role

M b appe , H aalan d , F eli x , S ancho , A le x an d er - arnol d

42-43

58-59

Ta x i n g W or k

To p 2 0 Most Inspirational Wo men’s Footballers

ta x affairs of the foot b all in d u stry

36-37

BROADCASTING M ONIES

Footballers life F oot b allers life C ons u ltancy

T H E K EY N U M B ERS

44-47

‘ H EADING ’

W H AT A R E T H E C O S T S FOR CONCUSSION

24-27

68-71

THIRD PARTY IN V ESTMENT

L u ke 1 9 7 7

P L AY E R S C A N OW N T H E I R TRANSFER RIGHTS

28-31

UK b ran d – LUK E 1 9 7 7

32-35

B roadcast i ng Dea ls

DYBALA

top 5 E u ropean L eag u es

P RO P O S E D T R A N S F E R TO TOT T E N H A M

56-57

Wilfried Zaha

74-75

Ath e n s

FOR AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

G i v ing Bac k

c o n t e n t s

126

M a r Bella E li x

90-95

Greu bel For sey

N ew H otel O pening

Th e L a k e H o m e

96-99

Ur ba n ista

Breitling

Bris b ane

AV E N G E R S W I S S A I R F O RC E TEAM LIMITED EDITION

100-103

T he Worl d ’ s F irst T ru ste d M em b ers ’ C lu b for Lu x u ry T rav el

127

A rt of I n v ention - H A N D M A D E 1

76-77

124-125

S tay O n e D e g r e e

H ilton Dalaman

116-119

Po rtu g a l S i x S enses Do u ro Valley

132-133 C ry o A c t i o n R angers F C

Fr e d e r i qu e Con stant

Qatar Bo u tiq u e

78-81

Bl u e Y eti x

84-87 Al pin a

S en d s the A lpiner x watch into space

108-111 M orning Breez e a lu x u ry d esign colla b oration

122-123

Imperial Secure

H igh - S ec u rity Lu ggage

128-129 12

Dyn a mi q new G T T 160

HE turning of a new decade is heralding a major change in the list of footballing stars after being dominated by the big three for as long as anyone can remember.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, along with Neymar Jr for good measure, stood head and shoulders above the rest for so long there is a generation of the game’s supporters who will have known nothing else.

But nothing lasts forever, and 2020 looks like being the year when we see a changing of the guard – and rarely have there been so many exciting talents ready to make the step up to world class status.

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Every generation boasts players with plenty of potential, but right now the European game is being lit up by a crop of young talent who look to have the world at their feet.

Kylian Mbappe has been around for a while now, but at 21 he is now maturing as a player and few will argue that he is now the big man around Paris Saint Germain, instead of Brazilian talisman Neymar. A couple of years ago he stood largely alone as the bright new hope, but now the France star is starting to see others emerge to challenge his widely-tipped position as the future best player on the planet.

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Rising

Starting with the goalscoring sensation Erling Braut Haaland. Aged just 19, the Leeds-born Norwegian is now one of the hottest properties in football after making a stunning impact since breaking through into the Molde first team. RB Salzburg made the shrewd move to snap him up in January last year, and he took to his move to Austria so well he had the world’s biggest clubs chasing him when the transfer window opened just 12 months later. Borussia Dortmund won the race to his signature and he has hit the ground running in the Bundisliga, continuing the goalscoring form he showed in Salzburg – both in the domestic game and in the Champions League. By the end of February he had scored 36 goals in 30 appearances for club and country this season – including five hat-tricks. These are frightening numbers and the signs are there he is only going to get better.

Stars

Yet he is not the only gem Dortmund possess. For in Jadon Sancho they have a talent who is posting the kind of numbers for goals and assists which already mark him out as one of the best in the game. March heralds the London-born player’s 20th birthday, and Sancho is one of those tipped to make a huge impact in the European Championships in the summer. By the end of the tournament, Dortmund seem ready to hold an auction for the England star’s services, by which time it is suggested he will have his pick of some of the biggest clubs in Europe. After 16 rounds of the Bundesliga this season he had notched nine goals and been credited with 16 assists, which is why Dortmund are confident they will be able to charge in excess of £100million for his services.

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It is perhaps only because of the exploits of Sancho and Haaland that Havertz has crept in under the radar of many, but those within the game have been raving about him ever since he made his Bundesliga debut as a 17-year-old.

Within two years he earned his first senior cap for Germany, and already there is a belief within the country that he will go on to reach the kind of levels achieved by Michael Ballack and Toni Kroos.

As Ronaldo approaches the final years of his brilliant career, Portugal has already anointed his successor as national hero – Joao Felix. Still only 20, Felix is another who has been courted by the elite clubs after three brilliant years as a young forward at Benfica.

It was Atletico Madrid who won the race for his services last summer, agreeing a fee of £113m with Benfica – which already makes Felix one of the most expensive players in the history of the game.

Though he has yet to set the world alight in the Spanish capital, he is still only learning and developing as a player and the coming years are likely to see him become a world star.

Football has a habit of rewarding attacking players more than any other, but there is one prospect around who actually plies his trade at full-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Claimed to be the best striker and crosser of a ball since David Beckham, Alexander-Arnold not only defends with aplomb, but he is one of the best creators of goals in European football.

St ar

By the end of January, only Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City had more assists in the Premier League than the 21-year-old. In his first 82 appearances in the competition, he was credited with 25 assists.

Put simply, the way he plays his position of right-back with Liverpool is changing the way people expect that role to be played.

That kind of return is up there with the best playmakers, and it is no wonder why that the rest of the game is looking on with envy, wondering just how good he will become.

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

ootballers’ Life Consultancy supports professional players, clubs and executives at all levels across Europe. Utilising our industry-leading European network, particularly across the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium we are able to offer support with the transfer of player’s, staff and general introductions in a highly professional manner.

Owned and operated by British born Duncan Pratt who played professionally in the Netherlands, Footballers’ Life Consultancy offers a genuine, personal experience to its clients and can offer support in a vast range of services:

Scouting networks Player recruitment advice Player career mentoring Brand & PR management Legal support through our approved supply network Contract negotiations Social and lifestyle brand networking Personal procurement consulting

If you would like to have a confidential discussion on how Footballers’ Life Consultancy can support you or your club, please email duncan@footballerslife.com.

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Current State of Play

THIRD PARTY INVESTMENT UPDATE: PLAYERS CAN OWN THEIR TRANSFER RIGHTS

Introduction

By Daniel Geey and Alex Harvey

It was a pleasure to talk alongside Nick De Marco recently at the RFEF FIFA Legal Congress in Madrid. We discussed the current state of play regarding Third Party Investment (TPI), particularly bearing in mind the recent TPI amendment to the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP).

In 2015, FIFA banned the practice of a third party (usually a funding company) owning a stake in the future transfer value of a player[1]. Up until the recent amendment, the question remained as to whether a player was classed as a ‘third party’ or not. The position set out by FIFA is now clear and will likely have a significant impact on players, clubs and agents alike. In brief, the amendment permits a player to own a percentage in his or her future transfer fee[2].

So how exactly does it work?

20%

Players (through their agents) can now request that they receive a certain percentage of their future transfer fee. Say a player negotiates a 20% future transfer fee clause, if their club subsequently sells them for £20m, the player would in theory be entitled to 20% of that transfer fee – i.e. £4m. In practice, the total amount due to the player may be lower because their percentage is often based on the net amount received by the club (after, for example, a sellon clause payments due to previous clubs).

The

Detail Such clauses will be an additional leverage in negotiations when the commercial terms of a deal are being discussed and agreed upon. They may be agreed to by clubs, perhaps in exchange for a lower weekly wage, loyalty bonus or signing-on fee; or even to incentivise a star player to sign in addition to a lucrative employment package. Where such a clause is agreed, the player will want to ensure there is also a release clause, such that the club is required to accept an offer over a certain amount. The club will know that a percentage of any transfer fee will be due to the player, and a release clause prevents the club holding out for an unrealistic transfer fee to cover that cost. Some, however, see the potential for conflicting interests between players and their agents. An agent’s commission is typically based on their player’s weekly wage; so they will naturally want to ensure their client’s weekly wage is as high as possible. This, on the face of it, is no bad thing for the player. However, where players wish to negotiate a future transfer fee, they may be willing to forsake a higher weekly wage in return – leaving their agent commissioning off a lower wage.

$% Although there are clear upsides for players, it puts them in a potentially vulnerable position. If a player has a future transfer percentage clause, various third parties will want to benefit from that arrangement and ‘persuade/request/demand’ the player enters into a separate side agreement whereby, in exchange for money or services, that party may earn a part of the player’s future transfer fee percentage. This has the potential indirect effect of reintroducing TPI ‘through the backdoor’. Importantly, because such third parties aren’t regulated by the football bodies, it also means that it is the player (if such agreements come to light) that will suffer by way of sanctions, not the third party.

In addition, the mechanics of how a player may receive his or her percentage of an agreed transfer fee are not entirely clear. Usually, as set out in my book Done Deal, transfer fees are paid in instalments; sometimes spread out over 2-4 years. Whilst a player may be entitled to say 20% of a £20m transfer fee (£4m), if the fee is paid by the buying club in four yearly instalments, the player will be waiting four years to receive his full contractual entitlement. Therefore, just as selling clubs are sometimes forward-funding future transfer fee instalments, it may be that players can either ‘piggy-back’ off club funding arrangements or independently forward-fund the percentage transfer fee that they are due.

It’s absolutely vital that players are given robust advice about the risks of having such clauses in their employment contracts and, perhaps more importantly, the consequences of entering into contracts giving away such future monies. FIFA and the national associations will need to consider how best to regulate to cover such eventualities. It may be as part of any FIFA TMS transaction or domestic equivalent system that players must declare that they are not providing any future transfer percentage they are due to a third party. Nevertheless, there is always a risk that the player will not understand the significance of such a declaration, which may mean trouble down the line.

Conclusion

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[1] [2]

Players are once again in a strong position in club negotiations to request and receive future transfer fees. Nonetheless, it’s imperative that they are fully versed about the current TPI ban so that they understand the consequences of any ‘side deals’ they are requested or persuaded to sign. Such private agreements are a significant risk to the player and would likely lead to sanctions being imposed (perhaps including playing bans or significant fines). With such opportunity comes risk. Players need to beware. Article 18ter “No club or player shall enter into an agreement with a third party whereby a third party is being entitled to participate, either in full or in part, in compensation payable in relation to the future transfer of a player from one club to another, or is being assigned any rights in relation to a future transfer or transfer compensation.” Pr evio u s de f inition: “Third party: a party other than the two clubs transferring a player from one to the other, or any previous club, with which the player has been registered.” New Definition 14 (RSTP June 2019 Ed.) “Third party: a party other than the player being transferred, the two clubs transferring the player from one to the other, or any previous club, with which the player has been registered.”

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Football Broadcasting deals across the top

european leagues By Daniel Geey and Alex Harvey

The excellent Swiss Ramble wrote a fascinating twitter thread comparing broadcasting revenues in the 2018/19 season across the top leagues in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. I would highly recommend reading the thread in detail. As with a previous thread that the Swiss Ramble wrote on EPL broadcasting monies, I wanted to set out some of the key takeaways from the brilliant analysis.

The standout statement from the thread was that:

Every Premier League club receives more money from their TV deal than all other European clubs except Barca and Real.

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EPL Dominance

The value of the EPL is clear: its £9.3bn+, three-year broadcasting deal means that on average each EPL club receives £123m per season, in comparison to La Liga (£56m), Serie A (£52m), the Bundesliga (£52m) and Ligue 1 (£27m). On average, an EPL team makes more than twice as much broadcasting revenue than its equivalent in La Liga. Amongst the top teams, Manchester City and Liverpool led the way with £151m and £152m respectively; significantly more than their European rivals including Barcelona (€143m), Real Madrid (€138m), Bayern Munich (€98m), Juventus (€85m) and PSG (€60m).

Perhaps the dominance of the EPL is better illustrated by looking at the amounts which the socalled “smaller” clubs received: “The bottom club in the Premier League, Huddersfield Town (£97m), earned more from their domestic TV deal than many European giants, such as Atletico Madrid £94m, Bayern Munich £89m, Borussia Dortmund £80m and Juventus £78m.” Even Real Madrid, one of the most illustrious clubs in European football, fell behind Everton (£129m) and Wolves (£127m) in the broadcasting revenue league table.

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Club Disparities and Distribution

As the Swiss Ramble points out, the

EPL distribution is the most equitable with the top club earning only 1.6 times the bottom club.

ne of the main drivers for increased competitive balance and maintaining the attractiveness of the overall league product is ensuring that outcomes and results are as uncertain as possible. That is part of the reason why La Liga, with its two historically dominant clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, decided to change their revenue distribution structures (by agreeing to move to a collective broadcasting agreement) to make the league more attractive and (in time) increase the competitive balance across the league. Nonetheless, at present, La Liga has the highest top to bottom club revenue ratio at 3.6. Serie A is 2.3 and Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga are 3.3. The actual revenue disparities from top to bottom club are EPL (£152m-£97m), Italy (€78m-€33m), France (€54m-€17m), Germany (€89m-€27m) and Spain (€130m-€37m).

”

Domestic deals v International deals In relation to rights sold by the leagues to domestic broadcasters from the 2019/20 season, the EPL rights have reportedly dropped 7% (£1.8bn a year to £1.7bn a year), in stark contrast to Ligue 1 whose domestic rights sale yielded nearly 60% growth (£660m to £1bn a year). La Liga too is up 15% (£0.9bn to £1bn). Whilst the EPL’s domestic rights have plateaued, its non-UK rights have continued to soar. Its international rights revenues have

increased by a third (£1bn to £1.4bn per year). La Liga’s international rights revenues continue to grow with a 30% increase from £627m to £815m. Further behind are Serie A £337m, Bundesliga £218m and Ligue 1 £73m. When taking into account both domestic and international deals, the EPL continues to blaze the broadcasting revenues trail. Its total per year revenues equal £3.1bn, in comparison to La Liga (£1.9bn), Bundesliga (£1.3bn), Serie A (£1.2bn) and Ligue 1 (£1.1bn).

The broadcast revenues are formulated across the different leagues as articulated by Swiss Ramble as follows: “Spain: After years of individual deals in Spain, La Liga have introduced a collective deal, based on 50% equal share, 25% performance over last 5 years and 25% popularity (1/3 for average match day income, 2/3 for number of TV viewers). Germany: The five-year league performance ranking (70%); the five-year ranking for both divisions (23%); the 20-year ranking for both divisions (5%); and the playing time of Germany U23s (2%). Italy: 50% equal share; 30% performance (15% last season, 10% last 5 years, 5% historical); and 20% profile (number of supporters). Ligue 1: 50-30-20 rule: 50% equal share (30% fixed, 20% according to club licences); 30% league standing (25% current season, 5% five previous seasons); and 20% media profile.

EPL: 50% of the domestic deal, overseas deals and commercial revenue. Merit payment (25% of domestic) is based on league position, while facility fees (25% of domestic) are based on number of times club shown live on TV. Overseas TV rights have always been distributed as equal share by the Premier League, but this will change in the 2019-22 deal. Clubs will continue to share current levels of overseas revenue equally, but any increase will be distributed based on where they finish in the league.”

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HOW DID

DYBALA IMAGE RIGHTS AFFECT HIS PROPOSED TRANSFER TO TOTTENHAM This piece was first published by the excellent Goal.com Getting a deal over the line can be complicated at the best of times but complications over marketing opportunities can make things even worse. It has been reported over the last few days that Paulo Dybala’s transfer to Tottenham hit choppy waters and ultimately collapsed because the issue of his image rights could not be resolved. Whether that was the case or not, it had the effect of shining the spotlight on what image rights in UK football actually are and why they can complicate multi-million pound transfers. Here, sports lawyer Daniel Geey explains exactly what image rights are and how Dybala’s case might have been affected.

What are image rights? Clubs have traditionally paid their players solely for playing football. This relationship has evolved. As commercial drivers push football into the entertainment and brand space, clubs are looking for a variety of ways to ‘monetise’ and grow their revenue base. As such, clubs are entering into a variety of commercial partnerships whereby brands want to be associated with clubs and their high-profile players. Some Premier League clubs have in excess of 60 commercial partners, all seeking the right to use images of high-profile players in their advertising. A player’s image can include their player’s name, nicknames, likeness, image, photograph, signature, autograph, initials, statements, endorsement, physical details, voice and other personal characteristics. The idea is that the above descriptions include everything that may form part of that player’s image for the player and/or his club to then market accordingly. A club and/or brand will be paying a player to endorse and promote a number of specific commercial deals.

Who owns Dybala’s image rights? It has been reported in the Dybala case that a third-party marketing company, ‘Star Image’, had paid the Argentine to acquire his image rights. If this is the case, then any agreement in return for such sums would have required the player to undertake a certain amount of commercial activity with a range of brands so that the company could recoup and hopefully make a profit on the initial outlay to Dybala. From promotional publicity undertaken by the player over the last few years, it appears he has done endorsement work for brands including Samsung, Gatorade, Monster, OTRO, FIFA and Adidas.

Why is Dybala’s image rights case so complicated? Potential image rights complications arise when a club wishes to use a player’s image rights for particular purposes. At the most basic level it may be that they want to use his image for club purposes, such as images of him in club kit, in the club shop, across their commercial and social channels and in conjunction with particular existing club sponsors and partners. Under, for example, the standard Premier League employment contract that each player enters into with his club, certain provisions allow for a club to use a number of their players to promote their sponsors. It is, however, quite limited in scope (for example, the contract typically states “the Club’s use of the Player’s Image must not be greater than the average for all first team players”). However, if Dybala does not have control of such image rights (because he sold them to a third-party company), the club would need to come to a commercial agreement with the marketing company to use such rights. It may have been that the marketing company valued those rights much higher than the club.

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The necessity for club image rights deals If a club does not have a separate image rights agreement in place with their star players it would be difficult to use, say, Harry Kane’s image with the majority of the club’s commercial partners because that is not generally permitted under a player’s standard employment contract (as explained above). And, more importantly, the club’s commercial partners would probably want to use Harry Kane’s image more than perhaps one of the first-team squad players who would be less recognisable in other markets. So the reality is if Spurs want to use the player’s image across a range of sponsorship opportunities, then it becomes pretty important for the club to contract separately with the player through an image rights deal to have control of those rights to endorse particular products and services. The reported complication in the Dybala situation is that usually the player owns his image through a company and the club contracts with the player’s company. That does not appear to have been the case with the Dybala transfer.

Image rights restrictions When negotiating a club image rights agreement with the company that owns such rights, most elite Premier League clubs will try to limit a player’s personal image rights options (i.e. Spurs may ensure that their players cannot endorse another insurance company or car manufacturer, even in a personal capacity, as Spurs are sponsored by AIA and Audi). Limiting the company that owns Dybala’s image rights from sourcing deals means that they are further restricted from finding lucrative brand deals that they would otherwise enter into. The marketing company owning Dybala’s rights may have wanted additional compensation from Spurs for the lost brand and commercial opportunities if the club were to restrict particular future deals. In addition, it may be that current deals already signed may put the player in potential conflict with existing club partner agreements. In May 2016, it was reported that one of the matters holding up the appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager of Manchester United was a conflict over his image rights. It was reported that Mourinho’s individual commercial deals, entered into before he joined Manchester United, may have been with competitors of the club’s own sponsors. Negotiations apparently centred around his deals with Jaguar and the watch company Hublot – and presumably United’s arrangements with their own sponsors, Chevrolet and Bulova. These types of commercial conflicts are becoming more frequent: players and managers have their own individual commercial deals, but clubs don’t want to devalue their own sponsors/partner brands. As Manchester United have more than 60 commercial partnerships/sponsorship deals in place, the potential for conflict is huge. The marketing company owning Dybala’s rights may have additionally asked the club for more money if certain agreements needed to be terminated or amended.

Future considerations In summary, the marketing company Dybala sold his image rights to may have been asking for large amounts in relation to the club using the player’s image for club activity, for lost commercial revenue if the company was restricted by the club in future deals they could sign and for potential deals they may have to amend or cancel because they conflict with existing club partnerships. This reported Dybala example is very much the outlier as most players own the company that exploits those image rights. Nonetheless, as image rights structures become more complicated, commercial solutions for off-field commercial matters will be important to consider when dealing with multi-million pound cross border transfers.

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PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB BROADCASTING MONIES:

THE KEY NUMBERS I had the pleasure of spending some time looking through a number of incredibly impressive and illuminating Swiss Ramble Twitter threads detailing past, present and (projected) future Premier League (EPL) and Champions League (UCL) broadcasting revenue figures. There was some fascinating detail and I wanted to highlight some of the significant numbers involved.

£9.2bn: This is the total figure that broadcasting companies worldwide paid for EPL broadcasting rights in the latest 2019-22 global tender process. Swiss Ramble explains that the domestic rights actually fell 7% from £5.4bn to £5bn with overseas rights soaring 34% to £4.2bn. The recent explosion in the overseas rights revenues has seen the amount paid grow from £59m per year (20012004) to £1.4bn per year (2019-2022). The 01-04 revenues accounted for only 11% of the total global broadcasting revenues. Now the overseas revenues are worth 45% of the total broadcasting pie.

£251m: The amount that Liverpool earned from EPL (£152.4m) and UCL (£98.5m) distributions. Swiss Ramble explains that this is “the first time a club has received more than a quarter of a billion pounds from this revenue stream”. Indeed, four clubs including Liverpool are modelled to have earned more than £200m from broadcasting rights revenues in one season (Spurs £235m, Manchester City £233m and Manchester United £225m).

£185m: This is the net per season increase that the EPL clubs will share as a result of the 8% increase in global EPL broadcasting revenues from £8.5bn to £9.2bn.

£171m: All things being equal, this is the figure that the EPL champions will receive come the end of the 2019-2020 season. This is in comparison to the 2018-2019 revenues where Manchester City as champions earned £151m. The quirk of the distributions meant that Liverpool although finishing second earned more (£152.4m) because they were broadcast on domestic UK TV on more occasions. Swiss Ramble’s modelling suggests the Big Six will likely earn an additional £14m–£21m per season from ‘19–’20 season onwards.

£98.5m: The amount Liverpool earned for winning the UCL beating Spurs in the Final in Madrid. This was made up of €15.3m for qualifying for the group stages, €60m from performance prize money, €23.3m based on the UEFA co-efficient ranking (calculated on club performances in UEFA competitions over a ten year period) and €12.7m TV pool allocation (50% calculated on where the club finished in the previous domestic league season and 50% on that year’s UCL performance).

£96.6m: This was the amount that the EPL distributed to the bottom club Huddersfield Town in the 2018-19 season. Every EPL team received £82m (which included 50% of the domestic TV distributions (£34m), an equal share of the overseas TV monies (£43m) and commercial revenues of £5m). Each league position was worth £1.9m to an EPL club (called a merit payment) and each EPL match broadcast live on UK TV was worth £1.1m to an EPL club (with £12.2m guaranteed as a minimum number of games (10)).

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p l aye r s Almost overnight he changed a dressing room used to weekly drinking sessions into one that went on to amazing success as Arsenal grew into one of the most feared clubs in Europe.

A R S E N E W E N G E R

Wenger’s knowledge and hunger for the game has now been harnessed by Fifa, who have appointed him as their first ever chief of global football development – tasked with growing the men’s and women’s games across the world.

I want to share what I have learned and I want to share the knowledge I have of the game I love.

ARSENE WENGER is planning to use his vast experience to help grow football around the world in his new Fifa role – but admits he still may be tempted back to management soon. Wenger took a year out following his departure from Arsenal, the end of a 22-year reign which not only achieved success in terms of trophies but also changed the face of the game in England. The 70-year-old Frenchman dragged the game in this country kicking and screaming into the modern era when he introduced his then unheard of coaching, fitness and dietary methods at Highbury.

He said: “I want to share what I have learned and I want to share the knowledge I have of the game I love. “Maybe one of the best positions to do that is at Fifa. I feel it is a position where I can help football to grow. Hopefully in quality and in knowledge.

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“Some of the duties are to contribute to the development of both men’s and women’s football. That’s very important.

For now, Fifa president Gianni Infantino is delighted to have captured the services of one of the most respected and recognised figures in the game.

“We have seen recently with the Women’s World Cup that it is a global sport but I believe there is lots still to do. I think I can bring my ideas to that, how to analyse the games and the performances of individual players.

Infantino said: “We are very happy to sign, so to say, Arsene Wenger. (He is) a top man, top football personality.

““Overall I want to contribute to the improvement of the laws. I will be involved with IFAB (International Football Association Board) as well.

“I’m counting very much on Arsene.

“I think there are very few persons around the world of football – maybe even beyond football – who are genuinely as respected as Arsene. “Mainly, all over the world I would like to contribute to the efficiency and improvement of coaching.” But Wenger admits there are still times he itches to get back into a management job after the best part of two seasons since leaving the Gunners. He added: “I am not sure I will stop coaching as well. The devil is still in there but I have to see, do I like it? Can I be efficient?”

“Not only at the top level but – this makes him very special – he has been coaching all around the world, he has been coaching his whole life and we need the expertise of somebody like Arsene who is certainly a top professional, who is very focused for football, for technical development of football. “I’m counting very much on Arsene. He is part of the team. We can do great things in terms of football development all around the world.”

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Taxing Work A record number of footballers, clubs and agents in England are being investigated over tax payments.

Over the past five years, £396million has been recovered from those within the English game alone and authorities believe there is more still due. The HMRC established its own dedicated football compliance project in 2017, and in that time as much as £65m has been repaid by clubs alone. And officials believe they are making progress with further attempts to recoup funds, with the BBC recently revealing a record high level of investigations into figures and businesses within the game. It has been revealed that the tax affairs of 330 players in England are being investigated – and increase on the figure of 173 being looked into a year ago.

HE scrutiny on the tax affairs of the football industry in England continues to grow with a record number of investigations currently taking place.

There are now 55 clubs under the microscope from 40 in 2019, and 80 agents are also being investigated compared to 38 last year.

Central to their inquiries is what the HMRC label as ‘tax risks’ – arrangements which include image rights, agents fees and dual representation. HMRC said: “We’re clear that everyone must pay what they owe under the law - regardless of their wealth or status. University of Liverpool football finance expert Kieran Maguire said: “HMRC have been investigating players and clubs over image rights for some time. “Image rights are a legitimate means of paying a player for off-field activities. “Payments are usually made to a separate company set up to manage the rights. “If HMRC feel that too much of the player’s pay has been diverted into this area [on which a player owning their image rights company would be due to pay Corporation Tax at 19%] they may decide that the money should be treated as wages [which would be subject to PAYE tax].” The amounts recouped from players and agents totalled £18m and £7m respectively from 201718 to the end of September 2019, the BBC found under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI).

HM Revenue and Customs has been targeting the game believing there may be money which is owed as a result of complicated financial arrangements in the affairs of clubs, players and agents.

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‘HEADING’ TOWARDS HEALTH PROBLEMS – WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF CONCUSSION LONG-TERM AND CAN I MAKE A CLAIM?

As well as an ongoing debate about whether football associations and clubs are cautious enough when it comes to head injuries, there are growing fears that regular heading of a ball increases the risk of players developing dementia. Julie Walker, partner specialising in brain injury claims at law firm Nelsons, discusses the dangers of concussion and whether footballers are entitled to claim after an injury.

J u li e Wa lk e r Pers o n al In j u r y S o l i c i to r Getting injured when playing football is nothing out of the ordinary – but when it comes to head injuries, it’s important to be fully aware of the risks, such as concussion, and take the necessary precautions. There have been many incidents that have raised questions about the concussion assessment process and the judgement of club medical staff.

In September 2016, Manchester United forward Anthony Martial suffered a heavy blow to the head after a clash with Daryl Janmaat during a match against Watford. Despite being in clear discomfort, Martial was deemed to ok to continue. But minutes later, an error by Martial led to Watford’s opening goal, and the player was then substituted, clutching his head as he left the pitch.

Further concerns were highlighted recently after Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho collided with Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson during a Premier League fixture at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, 22 February. Iheanacho was allowed to play on after he was punched in the head, only to be removed at halftime after a full assessment was undertaken by the club’s medical staff.

What is concussion? Concussion is an injury to the brain that temporarily effects how it functions. It occurs because of an impact to the head and can cause:

• Dizziness • Nausea or sickness • Confusion, or trouble processing or keeping hold of information • Sensitivity to light • Distorted eyesight • Loss of consciousness

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How is concussion detected?

What about a head injury caused by heading a football?

Identifying whether someone has concussion can be tricky, mostly because symptoms can often develop and worsen over time. There’s also the danger of what’s known as “second-impact” syndrome, which occurs when the brain swells rapidly after a person suffers a second concussion before symptoms from and earlier one have subsided, risking long-term damage.

At the end of February, the FA issued new guidelines banning children aged 11 and under from heading in football training in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The new guidance for coaches also puts limits on how much heading older children should do.

That’s why when it comes to football, if there is any doubt, a player shouldn’t continue on the pitch until they are fully assessed and, if required, treated. Current guidelines state that referees should stop a match for up to three minutes to allow a player to get treatment. If there are any symptoms of concussion, the player must be substituted. In the high-pressure environment of a match, doctors must be given sufficient time and space to assess a player with suspected concussion and protect their long-term health – with medical professionals stating that 10 minutes would be adequate. This is the case in rugby union, where players leave the pitch and are temporarily replaced to ensure an assessment of at least 10 minutes for suspected concussions.

Am I entitled to compensation if I’ve had a concussionrelated injury? Generally, when playing football, you’re doing so being fully aware of the risks. However, injuries, including blows to the head, can have life-altering consequences for players. If you’ve been involved in an incident that wasn’t your fault and it’s caused a concussion-related injury, you may be entitled to claim compensation, which can help with medical bills and lost wages.

To make a claim, you must provide proof that: There was a reckless disregard for your safety and well-being There was a deliberate intention to injure you Your injury was worsened by poor protocols/practices for assessment, treatment, removal from the pitch, and care.

This announcement has come after a study by the University of Glasgow showed former footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative diseases than members of the general population of the same age.

West Brom legend and England international Jeff Astle died aged 59 in 2002. A re-examination of the centre forward’s brain in 2014 found that he died from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which the coroner ruled had been caused by the repeated heading of heavy leather footballs. While not much is known about the risks from concussion in football, even less is known about the long-term effects from heading the ball repeatedly. Although evidence of a link between playing football and dementia has increased, it’s a complex disease and very rare for it to be caused by a single factor – and the studies so far haven’t considered all the other potential triggers, such as age, lifestyle and genetics. Nonetheless, when you consider that speed at which a ball travels in a professional game (an average of 60mph, sometimes as much as 80mph), then it shouldn’t be surprising that repetitive head-on collisions are likely to cause damage to the brain over time.

For former players who now find themselves with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive conditions, it’s very difficult to bring a successful legal case. Proving causation (i.e. showing that heading the ball was the cause of the condition) would be extremely difficult and, as the risks were not known at the material time, there was no foreseeable risk against which to guard. However, now that research has moved on, and a possible link between the two has been shown, it’s important to take the risk seriously and the safeguard and protect younger players against neurological damage. For more information making a head injury claim, please visit www.nelsonslaw. co.uk/serious-injuries/brain-injury-andhead-injury or call 0800 024 1976.

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p l aye r s Inter Miami Sporting Director Paul McDonough said: “In Diego we found a manager that fits our culture and has a strong desire to build a winning club for our fans.

David Beckham

Inter Miami

“He brings a lot of experience and championship-winning mentality as we begin our drive to be among the best clubs in the Americas. “We have big aspirations for our club and believe Diego has the right drive, passion and leadership to accomplish our goals.” Alonso first tasted Concacaf success in 2016/17 with Mexican side CF Pachuca, before moving onto their rivals CF Monterrey where he also secured the Champions League title. His appointment at Inter Miami shows the kind of level the club wants to operate at right from the outset, and is also an indication of how they view themselves as a cosmopolitan club in an area steeped in South and Central American influence.

EW clubs in Major League Soccer have attracted as much widespread interest as Inter Miami – and that is before they have ever kicked a ball in anger. Inter, co-owned by David Beckham, are rapidly approaching their first season in football after years of groundwork getting the South Florida-based franchise up and running.

The squad is well on the way to being finalised, with experienced MLS all-star Roman Torres signed up on a free after the end of his contract with Seattle Sounders.

But a sign of how serious owners want to compete in their inaugural season came with the appointment of the first ever Head Coach – Uruguayan Diego Alonso.

Torres’ experience and character will be crucial in a dressing room made up entirely of new signings as they approach a campaign when all eyes will be on them because of Beckham’s position on the board.

Plenty of names had been thrown about discussing who Beckham and Co would go for to lead the side, but in choosing Alonso they have gone for a figure who is operating at the peak of his career with plenty of pedigree behind him.

Their opening two fixtures are on the road – with the season kick-off at LAFC on March 1 before a trip to DC United a week later.

The 44-year-old may not have been a widely known name in Europe, but in the Americas he is a boss with a fantastic record of success, becoming the only coach to win the prestigious Concacaf Champions League with two different teams.

Huge investment has been made developing a state of the art training centre in nearby Fort Lauderdale, adjacent to the Inter Miami Stadium where there will be playing home matches this season.

Then comes the eagerly awaited inaugural home match for Inter – which as luck would have it will be against LA Galaxy on March 14, the franchise Beckham played for with distinction when he decided to make the move to the States on leaving Real Madrid in 2007.

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Chelsea have received all the plaudits this season for progressing young players, but there is another club in West London turning up a real track record for producing first team stars.

While first team bosses have come and gone at the club, Hall, assistant Andrew Impey and their team have quietly gone about producing an identity as a development squad which has provided the backbone for success. He added: “We’re Queens Park Rangers, the R’s, and we’ve got three – Respect, Responsibility and the third is Resilience. “We have had a massive changeover of managers since I’ve been here, I’ve seen lots of different styles of play, however we have stayed the same because I have to make these guys adaptable to be able to play under any kind of manager.

Queens Park Rangers have used the limitations of tight budgets, as a result of a penalty for financial fair play breaches, to overhaul their academy and development squad programmes.

The current squad is littered with home grown players and youngsters like Ebere Eze, Ilias Chair and Bright Osayi-Samuel are already catching the eye of Premier League clubs. And no-one is prouder than 47-year-old Hall, who has carried out the wishes of director of football Les Ferdinand and head of coaching Chris Ramsey by nurturing wave after wave of products ready for Warburton to call on.

hen Deshane Dawling appeared in the FA Cup win over Swansea earlier this month he became the 18th player nurtured by under-23 boss Paul Hall to make his first team debut. Former Jamaica World Cup star Hall is in his sixth year in charge of the development squad at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, and is turning up talent at a dazzling rate.

Hall said: “As a club we were in a financial position which meant we couldn’t spend any more, and that’s where Chris and Les came in and said ‘look, we’re just going to have to see if we can produce some home grown players’.

“So the identity of the academy has stayed the same throughout. It’s total football, right across the board, an adaptable style of play. “It’s a strength-based capability programme which focuses on people’s strengths. “The biggest example is Eze. He’s come in, he’s a supremely talented boy and for whatever reason he failed at different football clubs. But he came to us and we saw the strength that he had, and that strength was that his ability is fantastic. “He needed a lot of belief in him, needed to tidy up in a lot of other areas but that’s what we do. “We polish them up because it’s the very last stop before you go into the first team. We’ve got to grow these young people into being men, to grow them into being ready. “When they go over there they can’t be embarrassed by not being technically ready or psychologically ready, they’ve got to be ready and hold their own. “That’s what we did with Eze, with Ilias, Joe Lumley, Ryan Manning, Darnel Furlong – there’s a big long list of players who have gone into the first team and stayed there.”

“I like to think I’ve played my role in that and been instrumental in bringing so many young players through. Pride is the biggest feeling.”

a d v i c e “Our mission is to rescue the vulnerable.” So runs the credo of the orphanage funded by Wilfried Zaha and run by his sister Carine in Daloa, 200 miles inland in Ivory Coast. The 30 orphans currently sheltering from the emotional storm of lost or overwhelmed parents read the huge letters painted on the wall of the playground in French and English. “Nous sommes les espoirs de demain.” “We are the hope of tomorrow.”

WILFRIED

ZAHA

Away from the pitch Zaha, along with sister Carine, takes pleasure from running the Tomorrow’s Hope orphanage in Daolo in the Ivory Coast. Every year they take another 30 children who have lost their parents in, giving them hope and opportunity of a bright future.

is a man on a mission. To prove himself on the pitch and give back to those less fortunate off it.

He explainms: “If we didn’t take them in, they’d be left on the streets. “They’re all buzzing to see me when I go because they know I help them. I’m just happy I can put a smile on their faces. To know I give other people an opportunity to have a decent life gives me joy to step on the pitch every day. aha is one of the most naturally gifted footballers in the Premier League, a maverick who has the ability to unlock even the tightest defences.

But the 27-year-old Crystal Palace star still faces criticism over the way he was unable to make the adjustment to life at Manchester United to enjoy a long-term future at Old Trafford. For others, his decision to turn his back on England to play international football for Ivory Coast suggested he did not have the stomach for a fight. And then there is his reputation as a player rival fans love to hate, berating referees when he has been the victim of yet another heavy challenge by an opposition defender. Yet there is way more to Zaha than his public persona. The boy from a humble South London upbringing

I’m just happy I can put a smile on their faces.

who accepts his role in the game and who donates 10 per cent of his wages to his charitable foundation aimed at helping others. “All everyone ever sees is angry, passionate Wilf playing,” he said. “When I play football I am very passionate, I like to win, so that’s the side that people see. “There are more sides to me. Unless you want to see that side, you wouldn’t. “For some reason, I’m that pantomime villain that every club hates. Every team. We played against Colchester, I’ve never played against them before, I go on and I get booed. I’m thinking, ‘You don’t even know me, why are you booing me?’ “The thing that gets on my nerves is when people say, ‘Take the abuse as a compliment. Take the kicks as a compliment.’ If I’m going off with crutches . . . that’s not a compliment. ‘Yeah, but you’re one of the best players so take him abusing you as a compliment.’ “It doesn’t feel nice for me so why would I have to have this thick skin? I’m the only player being booed. “Even Brighton, I got sent a video where they’re singing on a train, ‘Zaha’s got malaria.’ This is the stuff I get all of the time.”

“God has given me this chance to help. “We had no ‘handouts’ growing up. It was definitely difficult at times. My dad used to have the worst cars, the smallest ones and they wouldn’t last long. “We broke down a million times going to training. It was embarrassing. One time it broke down in Thornton Heath and a Palace fan helped me and my dad push the car. I was in my tracksuit. I was 10, 11. “He made a joke, ‘I’m only helping because you play for Palace’. We broke down in Croydon by the flyover, at the traffic lights. There was traffic everywhere and a couple helped us push the car to the side. “When I was coming through, I never had boots. Money was tight. Dad did what he could. He got me some trainers, all he could afford. I still played with them on the grass. “People made jokes but I didn’t care at all. It drove me. I used to get mocked all the time because I didn’t have the

LONDON, UK. April 08, 2019: Wilfred Zaha arriving for the Football for Peace initiative dinner by Global Gift Foundation at the Corinthia Hotel newest boots, but I really didn’t care because in my mind my drive to become professional and reach my dream was way more than all these things. “I had tunnel vision, nothing else mattered. I didn’t think about the money. I loved football.” So what of that abortive spell at Manchester United when he moved aged 20 and was caught up in the turmoil following the retirement of Sir Alex Feruson? Zaha said: “The only frustration was I would have liked to had more of an opportunity to show I was good enough for Manchester United . But I feel like that period has pushed me to still be relevant now. “I’m still buzzing about the day when I actually met Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton. Even to this day. One of the greatest managers in the Premier League, and he’s telling me: ‘I want you to come to my team.’ It was a no-brainer. I was a bit sad when I saw him leave, because he

didn’t tell me he was going to retire. “There are so many people who have been in those predicaments when they’ve gone to top teams, haven’t had chance to play and when they have left, you just don’t hear of them. That’s what has driven me more to be like the top players. “They prove it every game, why they are top players. I just had to show constantly that wasn’t a fluke, I didn’t win a raffle ticket and went to Manchester United. I am a good player. I will make sure I continue proving that. “I feel with the talent that God has given me, I feel I can keep improving and there will be other opportunities. “But I will always love Palace. I’ve been here since I was 8 years old. For me when I put that shirt on and go on the pitch, I always gave 100 per cent. “So once I was back, I was 100 per cent Palace. If I didn’t move, I didn’t move, but I am ambitious, I feel I can go to the next level so if there is an opportunity I feel like I can’t say no to it.”

p r o p e r t y

Revealed:

Out of a possible 500 points, it was Steph Houghton who went straight to the top of the table with 420 points. Houghton scored a number of goals for her high influence across all criteria, including career, wealth, media, charity, and digital.

“It’s no surprise to us that Steph Houghton is the most inspirational women’s footballer. Houghton scored first place across several of our categories - media, social media, and charity - with high results across the rest too. “Her influence as a player is huge, extending well beyond Manchester City. She’s the player that everyone on the planet would know.

Houghton was followed by Toni Duggan with 340 points and Jill Scott with 310

The World’s Most Inspirational Women’s Footballer

“The study has highlighted that in 2020, there’s much more to being a footballer than you might think. Players at such a high level have a huge amount of pressure and more goals to score than just on the pitch.”

A representative at Online Casinos, commented on the results of the study:

Scoring Methodology

A new study by Online Casinos has ranked England’s top players to reveal the most inspirational and influential footballer.

The 23 footballers included in the study make up the current England National team, playing in March’s SheBelievesCup.

Each footballer in the study was awarded up to 500 points based on their range of influence, including number of caps and goals, media appearances, charity work and digital presence.

The

Top 20

Most Inspirational

Women’s Footballers 58

Players were between 10 and 50 points on the following criteria:

England Caps England Goals Wealth - net worth TV Appearances Acting Credits UK Search Volume US Search Volume

Players were ranked following original research into a number of different factors. These were scored individually out of 50 points - with higher points awarded incrementally for higher numbers - with a total overall score available of 500 points.

Instagram Followers

Twitter Followers

Players were between 10 and 50 point points on the following criteria:

Charity Work

England Caps England Goals Wealth - net worth TV Appearances Acting Credits UK Search Volume US Search Volume

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ke 1977

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LUKE 1 9 7 7

ears of hard-work has been the foundation to the success of the UK brand – LUKE 1977 that for almost two decades has proudly been capturing the demands, needs and desires of the working-class male and female.

The clothing brand has developed a strong reputation within the football world with a number of collaborations with various professional clubs in the UK. Perhaps it’s biggest movement in the football world was LUKE’s official kit provider sponsorship to Aston Villa in the 2018/2019 promotion winning season which saw them take over from the multi-billion dollar sportswear company, Under Armour. The LUKE x Aston Villa collaboration achieved a number of successes, with shirt sales increasing by 750% on the previous campaign. It was also a landmark deal in Football, with it proving to be the very first occasion a bona fide fashion brand had collaborated on a kit with a professional team. Not only did LUKE support Aston Villa with its kit design, they have and continue to work with the club on its formal wear.

As well as working with Aston Villa, LUKE 1977 has also made its mark in Scotland through a collaboration with Hibernian FC. The brand announced a two-season partnership with Hibs that would see them design the club’s leisurewear line. Kidderminster Harriers is another football partnership in place. This time LUKE 1977 getting the nod to design and supply the club’s technical kit for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons, marking the brands first solo kit deal.

fa s h i o n LUKE 1977, despite their recent successes designing and supplying football shirts and club leisurewear, originated as a fashionable and classy clothing brand, which boasts an array of ranges accommodating all sizes including the taller person. The distinctive style is a practical interpretation on contemporary menswear and has all the components of the modern lad, a gentleman, a working class hero and a bit of a rogue. It has remained very much true to its roots drawing heavy influences from the tough elements of its native Birmingham. The desire to produce quality, classy clothing with a fashionable twist is essentially, where the brand originated.

The LUKE brand is the brainchild of Luke Roper born in the West Midlands whose mother was a Dressmaker. Founder Luke Roper by 12 found he had a talent for football and sewing machines, by 15 he was making one off shirts for his friends; he soon became a local legend, with customers coming from all over the area ordering his unique designs and creations. Today the business has 14 stores located across the breadth of the country with an even larger number of independent stockists.

The brand’s popularity in the lively parts of Birmingham helped to put the LUKE business on the map. The local support within the West Midlands has direct comparisons to the fierce loyalty of people in Birmingham that they show week in week out following their respective football clubs. Everything about LUKE has connotations with football, even launching a line named ‘3pm on a Saturday’ to offer a fashionable choice for football fans on a matchday. Across many of their designs that the brand is consistently producing there is a continual influence and link to football. LUKE has, and rightly so earned its place through hard work within the elite brands that is associated with English football fans.

Bridging a relatively untrodden pathway between sport and fashion is where LUKE has been attracting a continually growing fan base. Nike and Adidas have arguably been the leaders in the sport fashion market, but what LUKE is doing is very different. Where else can you find practical sportswear that has an individual design element to it? The LUKE range covers you for every occasion, whether that be a round of golf, a day out on the terraces at the football, comfortable loungewear or a night out.

Check out the entire range at www.luke1977.com

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thens is our most functional earphone that gives you total freedom while doing all sports. With the IP67 waterproof rating, you can run, swim and sweat freely with your earphones. The stylish complimentary charging case provides you with 3 additional full-charges, each lasting up to 8 hours. With 32 hours of total playtime and a case so compact that it fits effortlessly into your pocket, Athens is your perfect workout companion – designed for a life in full motion.

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SPECIF ICATION S • Driver unit: 6mm • Bluetooth Version: 5.0 • Charging Time: 1h • Total playtime: 32h • Standby Time: 400h • Battery (in mAh): 50mAh/earbud • Working Range: 10m + • Mic Distance: 20cm • Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20KHz • RF Output Power: 7.70dBm • Impedance: 16Ω ± 15% • Sensitivity: +/- 3dB at 1kHz • SNR: 80.891dB • Audio Codec: HSP, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP, APTX

In the b ox • Charging case • USB charging cable • Manual

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ake charge of the music at the housewarming party or enjoy a podcast at the countryside – Brisbane is perfect for both. If you’re looking for that stereo sound experience – you’re in for a treat. With up to 10 hours play time and complete with Bluetooth, second-speaker pairing for a full stereo sound is easier than ever. Brisbane gives you deep bass, powerful beats and high ambience. It comes in a timeless design with a seamless silhouette and effortless volume controls. Bring it with you on your travels, as Brisbane fits into your weekend carry-on with ease.

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• Driver unit: 52mm • Driver power: 2 x 8W • Sensitivity: 80dB +/-3dB • Impedance: 4±3﹪Ω • Frequency: 80–20,000 KHz • Working time: 10 hrs • Charging time: 3 hours • Stand-by time: 90 days • Charging Type: Micro USB • Battery type: Lithium-ion battery/5000mAh • Battery watt hours: 18.5Wh • Bluetooth Version: V5.0 • Working Range: >10m • Mic Distance: 0.5m • Supporting codecs: SBC, MP3, AAC

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bLUE introduces

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lue, a 20-year leading innovator in audio technology and design, announced the new Yeti X USB microphone for gaming, streaming and podcasting. Yeti X features new Blue VO!CE technology, which enables content creators to dial up professional vocal effects and custom presets at the push of a button. A four capsule condenser microphone array delivers exceptional focus and clarity, high-res LED metering provides visual, real-time feedback for vocal levels, and a multi-function smart knob provides instant control over essential mic functions. Combining legendary Blue audio quality with innovative new features, Yeti X is the ultimate tool for creators who want to deliver professional content and build their audience.

@BlueMicrophones introduces Yeti X professional USB mic with Blue VO!CE software for creators and streamers http://bluedesigns.com/yetix

“We’re excited to introduce Yeti X with Blue VO!CE technology and continue the evolution of our renowned lineup of USB mics,” said John Maier, president and CEO, Blue Microphones. “We created Yeti X based on feedback from content creators all over the world, who need fast and easy-to-use tools that help them sound their very best. Yeti X with Blue VO!CE gives creators the ability to quickly and easily customize their sound using high-quality effects and presets. Additionally, new features like high-res LED metering and a multi-function smart knob make it easier than ever to deliver professional results for gaming, streaming, and podcasting.”

New Yeti X includes Blue VO!CE software with built-in effects and presets, a four capsule condenser array, and real-time LED metering to deliver professional broadcast quality results for gaming, streaming, and podcasting

Professional USB Microphone with Blue VO!CE Software for Creators and Streamers

Yeti X is plug ‘n play on Mac and PC and includes advanced Blue VO!CE audio software, a suite of broadcast vocal tools and effects that makes it easier than ever to achieve professional on-stream sound quality. Creators can quickly access and select a variety of professionally-tuned presets for broadcast, radio voice, male and female voices, and effects such as crisp and modern, warm and vintage and more. In addition, Blue VO!CE gives creators access to professional effects including noise reduction, expander, gate, de-esser, EQ, compression and limiter.

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Yeti X was custom tuned to deliver superior, broadcast-quality sound for professional-level gaming, Twitch™ and Mixer streaming, podcasting and YouTube productions. A four-capsule condenser array provides clearer, more focused audio for Yeti X’s four pickup patterns. Cardioid mode captures sound sources that are directly in front of the microphone, omni mode picks up sound equally from all around the mic, bidirectional mode records from both the front and the rear of the microphone, and stereo mode uses both the left and right channels for capturing immersive audio experiences.

Blue VO!CE is accessible exclusively through Logitech’s free, easy-to-use G HUB platform, enabling content creators to manage mic gain, headphone volume, monitoring preferences, and pickup pattern selections right from their desktop. Streamers can also match the color and design of their desks by personalizing the color of Yeti X’s LED lights. Yeti X is also compatible with the Blue Sherpa companion app, which features quick and direct control options from your desktop to help you get the most from your mic. Yeti X features an 11-segment LED meter that goes from green to red, so streamers can check and adjust their vocal levels at a glance and easily maintain professional sound quality while live on camera. An illuminated multi-function smart knob provides precise control over mic gain, mute and headphone volume. The smart knob also controls the blend of microphone signal and computer sound, so creators can quickly adjust the amount of computer audio versus microphone audio that is heard in the headphones.

Streamers can pair Yeti X with Blue’s professional broadcast accessories to transform their desktops into broadcast studios, including Compass premium broadcast boom arm and Radius III shockmount.

Pricing and Availability Yeti X was launched in the US in October 2019 and is now available on www.blue-designs.co.uk at £159.99.

About Blue Microphones Blue continues a 20-year legacy of innovative, cutting-edge design and performance across critically acclaimed microphones and the Emmy Award-winning headphone line. Blue offers a range of recording tools for almost any application in both professional and consumer markets. From Blue’s flagship studio Bottle microphone, to a premium headphone line, to the world’s #1 USB microphones, Blue has tools that inspire creativity. Blue Microphones is part of the Logitech International portfolio of brands. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Learn more at bluedesigns.com (LOGIIR)

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Sending the AlpinerX into space n July 20th, 1969, humans walked on the moon for the first time in history. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin explored the area around their lunar landing site, collected soil and rock samples, set up experiments and overall, marked history forever. As part of its “Reach your Summit” campaign, Alpina Watches could only salute the efforts made 50 years ago that changed mankind’s relationship with space.

Alpina is proud to announce the successful launch of an AlpinerX watch into space, reaching an altitude of 33’793 meters going higher than the planet earth’s highest summit: Mount Everest at 8’848 meters. Once again Alpina pushed its limits and maxed-out the use of the watch’s altimeter function.

In partnership with “Sent into Space”, a startup company specialized in Space photography (based in the region of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England), the watch was filmed on its way up into space and finally back to planet Earth after a 3-hour flight. The film offers breathtaking views of the AlpinerX going firstly through the troposphere and then through the various levels of the stratosphere, with planet Earth as a backdrop. The watch was then recovered by “Sent into Space” 60KM away from the launch location. The first AlpinerX to have gone into space is now visible in the Alpina museum in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland.

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To honour this achievement and mark the 50th anniversary of Man’s first landing on the moon, Alpina created a special edition of 299 pieces in a rich blue color. If the case, bezel, dial and strap of the watch are an homage to space’s infinite deep black, the silver indexes and hands have been treated with a black luminescent solution glowing in dark environments. Further enhancing the singularity of the timepiece, the case-back carries a special engraving featuring the moon at the center of Alpina’s famous triangle logo, inspired by the Matterhorn in 1900. Each watch is been hand-assembled in the brand’s workshops in Geneva and is individually numbered.

A lpi ne r X Spac e E d iti on Reference AL-283SEN5NAQ6

Li m it e d e d iti on 2 9 9 pcs

A B O U T

SENT INTO SPACE Sent Into Space Ltd is an exciting and novel company who specialize in sending items into Near Space. They are the global experts in Near Space, applying cutting-edge research and innovation to create inspiring experiences. A large part of what they do is associated with producing advertisements for companies who are seeking a dramatic, attractive and novel approach to their advertisements. We have conducted 500+ successful flights, including projects for companies such as, Xbox, Google, The BBC, Sony Music and Audi to name but a few. Further to our corporate projects we work in schools conducting our educational Near Space projects with students of all ages. This typically involves giving a science lesson surrounding the subject of space, familiarizing the students with our equipment and ultimately conducting a launch from their premises. Thirdly we have a research arm and have been published numerous times, most notably on our studies on life in the stratosphere.

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Navy fiber glass and stainless steel 45mm diameter 360° bi-directional turning compass bezel Scratch – Convex Resistant Sapphire Crystal 10 ATM/100m/330ft Water-resistant Engraved case-back MMT-283-1, Horological Smartwatch All connected functions operated by the crown 2+ years battery life Navy dial with mat finishing with applied black luminous silver indexes Digital screen Blue hands with black luminous treatment Navy leather strap Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Date Activity Tracking Heart Rate Monitoring (over BLE connection) Sleep Monitoring Dynamic Coach Worldtimer (2nd Time Zone + Local 24h Time) Smart Alarms (Get-Active Alerts, Sleep Alarm) Calls & Messages Notifications UV Indicator Altitude Compass Temperature Time Recorder (Stopwatch, Timer, Workouts) Barometer

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Greubel Forsey Art of Invention HAND MADE 1

T h e s u mmit o f tru e h and - watc h makin g With 95% of this timepiece – including the hairspring – made using only hand-operated tools, one single timepiece requiring an extraordinary 6,000 hours work (equal to three man-years), Hand Made 1 by Greubel Forsey takes traditional watchmaking to a new unprecedented summit. Never before has a hand-made timepiece exhibited such a high level of workmanship and precision. This timepiece, unique in the history of watchmaking, is the fruit of a technical and human endeavour of epic proportions, enlisting extraordinary talents and setting the course for the future.

Before the Industrial Revolution and the advent of mass production, watch components had to be made one by one requiring very specific skills, tools and completely hand-operated machines. Today, with industrialisation, excellence in hand craftsmanship has virtually disappeared and these skills are not even taught in schools. Throughout their training and careers, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey have amassed extensive experience of hand craftsmanship, both in prototypes or replacement parts for restoration. Deeply attached to these ancestral skills at the core of such a rich irreplaceable watchmaking heritage, the Naissance d’une Montre 1 adventure with Time Æon Foundation and their determination to pass on their know-how to future generations, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey have now gone to unprecedented lengths by creating Hand Made 1, the first incarnation of this out-and-out approach.

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A n e x trao rdinary c h all e n g e Greubel Forsey is well known for pushing back boundaries in its research and creations to accomplish what had never even been thought of before. Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey have already demonstrated this by inventing and perfecting a completely new generation of tourbillons (Tourbillon 24 Secondes, Double Tourbillon 30°, and Quadruple Tourbillon) that have since become references in mechanical watchmaking. They have also proven their inventiveness by opening up new horizons in terms of energy and space in the field of nanotechnology. This quest for excellence and the conviction to explore each new venture’s full potential has been a key driving force for the Hand Made 1 project for several years. For Greubel Forsey, it’s not only about reviving ancient techniques, forgotten and skills. The aim is to take these skills and know-how to a previously unattained level of excellence and precision, furthering them in the same spirit of constant improvement that has always guided the Inventor watchmakers. The goal is to resurrect the ancestral art of hand craftsmanship and reinforce it with standards of workmanship and precision rivalling even modern production equipment. To fulfil this exceptional challenge and reach micronscale accuracy using ancestral tools, the artisans must obtain a precision that such traditional machines themselves cannot easily offer. They rely on “the intelligence of the hand”, endlessly correcting minute details to edge ever closer to perfection, achieve the required quality and ensure perfect and flawless operation. In this process, the time spent is of secondary importance.

A project of this scale could not be simply incorporated within existing structures or even to just one or two watchmakers. To complete this epic feat, Greubel Forsey had to build a team of the most skilled craftsmen in each field, principally from its workshops, as well as several external talents. This true “family” worked together in complete harmony.

HAND MADE 1, a landmark in t h e h i s to ry o f watc h makin g Greubel Forsey unveils the result of this unprecedented watchmaking approach: Hand Made 1 – an hours/minutes/seconds timepiece with a tourbillon. This creation took an uncharted course because simply replicating an existing calibre by hand was out of the question. The Hand Made 1 has been entirely created from scratch. The movement construction, traditional machining and hand-finishing specialists reflected at length on each of the 272 movement components and 36 case parts, understanding and concentrating on what the hand-made approach allows and how to get the very best out of it. The same questions were asked at every stage: “How can we design this part to be able to make it using traditional tools or machines such a jig borer or lathe? And which shape can we give it so the artisans’ intelligent hands can ensure extraordinary precision and the finest craftsmanship?” The Hand Made 1 therefore demanded a total overhaul of the creative process, involving the people who would make and decorate each component from the very beginning. This project’s daring was only matched by the creativity and inventiveness required to find new technical solutions. Some parts of the movement were redesigned in order to simplify them. Meanwhile for other mechanisms such as the tourbillon, the number of components had to be increased to allow each part to be made by hand. The timepiece’s relatively modest dimensions (43.5 mm in diameter and 13.5 mm further heightened the difficulty of this task.

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Hand M ad e b e au t y

An almost unimaginable feat

In this unique endeavour of Greubel Forsey’s handmade craftsmanship, each component tells a tale. It has its own development process and journey that makes it unique, undergoing long hours of cutting from the raw material guided only by the eye and the human hand. The technical and aesthetic perfection of this Hand Made 1 timepiece is immediately visible and in true Greubel Forsey style, it attributes equal importance to the invisible beauty of all the parts concealed inside the case.

The journey begins with the regulating organ, entirely produced by hand in Greubel Forsey’s workshops, including the balance spring, fashioned from an alloy in the Atelier. The balance spring is then rolled in a hand operated rolling mill (without computer assistance), a process that is certainly an endangered know how – only a few balance springs can be made at a time – whereas in contemporary industrial production, hundreds or thousands are automatically produced at once. The balance wheel is also entirely hand-made with an extraordinary standard of precision and finish. The escape wheel, with its 20 individuallycut teeth, each with four surfaces that are later ground, is a true tour de force. Meanwhile the machining and finishing of the escape lever alone require a month and a half of work. The hand making of the tourbillon carriage – with its 69 components weighing a total of 0.521 g – represented another sizeable challenge, as it is not possible to replicate the same geometry of a CNC machine on a traditional jig borer. An increased number of parts are consequently required to form this exquisite, almost airborne mechanism. All the movement’s components are of course then hand finished true to the finest watchmaking tradition, including the bridges with their polished inner and outer vertical flanks, the unique “Gratté” mainplate, and the wheels with hand polished bevels top and bottom (40 sharp internal angles for a five-spoke wheel). The open dial stands out with its hand-enamelled chapter rings, paired with elegant, finely shaped flame-blued steel hands.

Finally, an entirely handmade timepiece, from the movement to the case, to the leather strap, the dial and the hands –the only exceptions being the sapphire crystals, the case gaskets, the springbars, the jewels, and the mainspring. To achieve the 95% handmade level with such a high standard of excellence required an astronomical 6,000 hours of work for one single timepiece – the equivalent of three man-years, where this total time only takes into account the pure watchmaking – and not the creation and development time. To obtain the 308 components of the Hand Made 1 respecting Greubel Forsey criteria, over 800 individual parts had to be made. It took almost 35 times longer to make the complete tourbillon cage than for a standard high-end tourbillon. When just a dozen operations on an automatic lathe effortlessly yield some 500 screws, a single screw, as small as it may be, requires up to 12 individual operations taking up to 8 hours to make just one. Finally to hand make one wheel of the Hand Made 1 takes 600 times longer than that of a high-end industrial wheel. Greubel Forsey’s attention to detail naturally includes the performance of the timepiece. Here, Hand Made 1 displays unprecedented prowess for a hand-made watch, its performance certified by Greubel Forsey.

Naturally, the 18k white gold case is also, handmade, thanks to a pantograph mechanical lathe fitted with turning tools, before being patiently satin-finished on the sides and polished on the upper surfaces.

Created as just two or three timepieces per year, the Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 is destined to become a new watchmaking landmark that unites both past and future. This new step towards the summit in the finest of craftsmanship is substantiated on the dial at 6 o’clock, where the inscription HAND MADE replaces the usual SWISS MADE.

GREUBEL FORSEY SA Eplatures-Grise 16 P.O. Box 670 2301 La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland +41 32 9254545 +41 32 9254502 press@greubelforsey.com www.greubelforsey.com

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AVENGER SWISS AIR FORCE TEAM L I M I T E D

E D I T I O N

Breitling is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Patrouille Suisse Swiss Air Force Team, admired around the world for its dazzling aerial performances, with the launch of the Avenger Swiss Air Force Team Limited Edition, produced in a series of 550 pieces.

In 1964, the Swiss Air Force created an aerobatics team, named Patrouille Suisse, made up of some of its most talented pilots. Today, 55 years later, the Patrouille Suisse squadron dazzles audiences with aerial displays in the skies above Switzerland and other European countries with precision performances in six supersonic jets. Breitling has created a new watch to honor these high-flying Swiss ambassadors: the Avenger Swiss Air Force Team Limited Edition. Georges Kern, the CEO of Breitling, welcomes the opportunity to celebrate the Patrouille Suisse squadron’s anniversary with a limited-edition chronograph. He says: “The Patrouille Suisse Swiss Air Force Team and Breitling make ideal partners. Flying in tight formations in supersonic jets, the Patrouille Suisse squadron is the perfect modern expression of our long aviation tradition. We are excited about the watch we have created to celebrate their 55th anniversary.”

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j ewe l l e r y The Campaign Revolving around the Patrouille Suisse Swiss Air Force Team Breitling is proud to present three talented Patrouille Suisse jet pilots to support this anniversary edition. Major Gunnar Jansen joined the Patrouille Suisse Swiss Air Force Team in 2010 and has led the formation for the past three years. Captain Claudius Meier flies in the second position, on the right side of the leader. Captain Lukas Nannini, the second soloist, who flies in the fifth position on the outer left wing, completes the squad.

The Breitling Avenger Swiss Air Force Team Limited Edition has a 45 mm stainless-steel case with a ratcheted unidirectional rotating bezel. Its striking black dial features the logo of the Patrouille Suisse squadron on the subdial at 9 o’clock as well as distinctive yellow and red accents that reflect the colors of the Patrouille Suisse squadron’s logo. The yellow-tipped second hand adds another dash of color. The hands and the black indexes are coated with Super-LumiNova ®, a luminescent material that makes them easily readable in all lighting conditions.

#squadonamission

BREITLING The caseback is engraved with the Patrouille Suisse squadron’s 55th anniversary logo – a stylized 55 and six supersonic jets in flight – along with the words “ONE OF 550”, an indication of its special limited-edition status. The Avenger Swiss Air Force Team Limited Edition is powered by a Breitling Caliber 13, a COSC-certified chronometer movement with a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. It is water-resistant to 30 bar (300 meters). The special limitededition Avenger is presented on an anthracite leather military strap with a pin buckle.

Since 1884, Breitling has established a global reputation for high-precision timepieces, its pioneering role in the development of the wrist chronograph, and its uncompromising commitment to design excellence. With the brand’s storied association with aviation, Breitling has shared the finest moments in humankind’s conquest of the skies. Renowned for its spirit of innovation, it has also earned a place of privilege in the worlds of science, sport, and technology. Breitling manufactures its own movements in-house and the quality of every watch is confirmed by its status as a COSC-certified chronometer, made in Switzerland.

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The Frederique Constant boutique, located in the Festival City Mall of Doha – 1st floor, gate #3, centre court #3 - brings an oasis of luxury and showcases the latest collections from the innovative Geneva watch brand in a completely new boutique concept. With a full range of design styles – from ultra-classic to contemporary – the boutique services the needs of the customers’ expectations. The Frederique Constant brand universe and timepieces are displayed in exclusive showcases, highlighting the brand’s values and expertise within a luxury atmosphere.

Frederique Constant boutique

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ollowing an overwhelming success in the Middle East, Frederique Constant, the Swiss watch manufacturer is pleased to announce the opening of its first worldwide mono-brand boutique in Doha, Qatar. In the honouring presence of Mr. Edgar Doerig, ambassador of Switzerland, Mr. Mohamed Al Jaber, CEO of Al Jaber Watches and Niels Eggerding, Managing Director of Frederique Constant, about 100 guests have discovered the 80 sqm new brand’s space and the specific limited editions of Manufacture models created for the occasion in a festive atmosphere.

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“We are thrilled to open our first mono-brand boutique in Qatar which is also the brand’s first boutique worldwide displaying our new concept” said Niels Eggerding, Frederique Constant’s managing director. “With an extended and specific collection, a VIP area for a unique experience, qualified and personalised advice on the brand and its timepieces, the Frederique Constant boutique is a great destination for our customers in Qatar.”

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Limited editions for the boutique No less than three exclusive Manufacture models have been created for the occasion. If you visit the boutique, you will be able to admire a Classic Worldtimer Manufacture and a Classic Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Manufacture offering a unique dial design with the maroon colour of Qatar’s flag.

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The third limited edition is a Classic Moonphase Manufacture offering a FC-712 in-house calibre, featuring hours, minutes, date counter and moon phase display with a specific salmon colour dial and black printed Arabian numeral indexes. All three models are produced in a very limited series and exclusively available in the Frederique Constant boutique in Doha.

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– a luxury design collaboration from Somium and Monica Armani at Los Colinas Golf and Country Club Costa Blanca:

Architect and Interior Designer Monica Armani’s extraordinary and beautiful new luxury home sits on this rocky hilltop like a spaceship newly arrived from space.

Morning Breeze is a piece of art landed in a dramatic location. Anyone lucky enough to live there will experience the joy of creativity that inspired it.

“I wanted to pay respect to this wonderful location based high above a fork between two fairways on the golf course,” explains Monica. “The obvious thing would have been to reduce the height and pour a lot of cement to make a level surface. That would have made it easier to get the interior area we wanted but I wanted to make the minimum of impact onto the location.

Taking Bauhaus pioneer Mies van der Rohe’s words “God is in the detail,” every single element making up Morning Breeze,” has been individually designed. Monica has worked on each and every detail of the house; creating ceramics, paint colours and fabrics that are unique to Morning Breeze. For the walls and flooring she worked with a stone quarry to create custom-made porcelain stoneware tiles with a specific colour and temperature. No other house in the world will have this unique ceramic.

“Everything in my design is to create a feeling of having arrived somewhere special. I take the energy from the land to create spaces to be comfortable and happy in.” Nestled within 6,000,000sqm of protected Spanish forest, this glass-fronted, hill-top home enjoys stunning views over the Mediterranean.

Parts of the house hang unsuspended over the land below giving a feeling of floating over the amazing views in all directions. Morning Breeze, thought to be the most expensive villa on the Costa Blanca, has become the leader of the range of Somium Signature Villas at Los Colinas, widely regarded as one of Spain’s finest leisure resorts.

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Entrance to the property is via a floating bridge hidden by a natural screen of scented native shrubs into another-worldly experience. Approaching the villa, seven meter high white metal poles have the impact of an art piece lending a dramatic elegance to the entrance.

If privacy is the new luxury, this three bedroomed supervilla is a new high water mark. It features two independent, yet interconnected self-contained suites with their own private bathrooms and kitchenettes allowing residents to have as much or as little contact with each other as they desire. The exceptional amenities at the property include a 240 sqm terrace with 160-degree views, a private gymnasium and spa with jacuzzi and sauna, landscaped gardens and the option of separate staff quarters.

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An amphitheater layout with a seven-meter-high glass facade overlooking the surrounding area ensures the magical location is maximized, whilst a two-storey aquarium-style glass infinity pool brings the outside in and the inside out. Armani has created a space which connects with nature and enhances the sights and sensations of the local environment; blending in with its surrounds and maintaining the beauty of the landscape.

In the sometimes unimaginative world of Spanish property where indentikit white and terracotta boxes are the norm at even prestige locations, Morning Breeze is a revolution that sets a standard even the finest resorts will struggle to match. Extraordinary but true; this is Monica Armani’s first foray into residential property design in Spain. It is expected to become the first of a series of luxurious, bespoke properties to be created as part of this collaboration between Monica and Somium.

Los Colinas has been Spain and Europe’s leading villa resort and was named four years running as Spain’s Best Golf Course. Last year the resort was named the Best Residential Development in Spain at the International Property Awards. A favourite location for many sports and media personalities the resort only adds to the undeniable appeal of Morning Breeze by Monica Armani. Morning Breeze will be complete and ready for sale and occupation by Spring this year. To express an interest in this or any other of the Somium properties at Los Colinas visit: www.somium.com

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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

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Pared back

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remember the warm, sticky days of summer when I was young and we used to go to Turkey or Patmos or the Algarve in Portugal. And the huge concrete resorts we used to stay in. I loved them. They were so grand and slick, with marvellously gigantic marble lobbys. Huge breakfast buffets were carefully presented each morning, where I absolutely had to sample each and every item. The numerous swimming pools and endless rows of neatly arranged stripy sunbeds. Blisteringly hot patio tiles and ear-numbing cabaret entertainment. How effortlessly easy it was for my sister and I to make friends with the other children and disappear for hours on end, rushing around to our new friends’ apartments and villas to see how each one differed. Some had two floors. Two floors! I remember one had a super-duper gallery with a sort of mini cinema. But that was way back then.

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I flew to Portugal for the first time as a fully grown adult last November and have been dreaming of its undulating agriculture-rich hillsides, the way the south, middle and north all have their own identity ever since. It struck me how, as a relatively small country, it possesses such a distinct sense of place. It really knows what it is. Yes, of course, it has flashy resorts, developed coastal towns and stark communist-era residential blocks, but it also has something else. What I found was a fairly wellestablished farm-to-table resourcefulness. A refreshing simplicity in which hotel restaurants offer produce that is in season and totally sourced locally. My lovely Tennessee girlfriend, Simona, and I rolled up to our first dinner, at Sâo Lourenço do Barrocal, located deep within the country’s interior, a beautiful hilly region called Alentejo, and encountered an altogether enlightening experience. What awaited was a very casual but brilliantly orchestrated dining journey. A chilled but informed team, served up effortlessly simple and scrumptious Portuguese dishes such as shrimp and zucchini rice and chickpea stew. The story here begins in the 1930s when a forward-thinking philanthropist founded the estate as a home for destitute villagers. The property was snatched by the country’s communist government in the late 20th century and then lay empty until the current owners painstakingly and brilliantly reinvented it as a boutique farmhouse.

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Gorgeous organic products, without scent and totally unisex, fill a tremendously atmospheric Susanne Kaufmann spa (a former stables). Extremely large suites and cottages – mostly single storey – are sparsely decorated with renovated school chairs, rustic stools and immaculately pressed beds. We long to return to this wondrous place. A very scenic but rather exhausting four-hour journey north and we arrive at sleepy Six Senses Douro Valley (top tip: helicopter transfer available and suggested). A once privately owned manor house, set in 8 hectares of manicured vineyards, about a one-hour, 30-minute drive from Porto. For those who care about our environment but find it difficult to make a difference – and do not know this hotel group – I would strongly urge having a glance. An extraordinary sustainability ethos, which is fairly deeprooted in everything they do, provides guests with a sort of snapshot into the future of luxury travel with a conscience.

After polishing off a yummy Portuguese Caesar salad on the elegant terrace, an afternoon all but vanishes in the spa: wellness being an area of passion and expertise the group is known for across the globe. My therapist, calm and smiley Pascal, whom I already had spotted and mingled with at breakfast, heralds from Switzerland, but has most recently returned from a three-month dispatch in Bhutan and Cambodia, sits me down in a stylish treatment room, one of ten, to discuss my preferences and expectations. An energy healer at heart, Pascal’s sheer presence, simply put, emits calm and truly restorative powers.

Indeed, when I enquire about fruit deliveries arriving in ghastly cellophane packaging (a personal bugbear), the lovely marketing whiz, Sofia, explains that in fact the hotel sends each supplier a re-usable box (remarkable!) in which to package up and deliver food and beverage to the property. And not a single-use plastic in sight. Not anywhere. Simona and I smile and nod the most, I think, we have ever smiled and nodded. “Brilliant!”, Simona yelps. “Tremendous!”, I gasp. During our site inspection of the resort we encounter a little room, an outhouse really, entitled “Earth Lab”, where an impossibly charming Adão tinkers away with new recipes and menu items, whilst patiently offering guests an overview of the property’s ecocredentials. Deep inside at the back, we find immaculately arranged and labeled dried herbs and plants, each one sitting proudly in a glass kiln jar. A sort of experimental lab but without the testtubes. Wholeheartedly magnificent.

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I suppose I would describe my session as a juxtaposition of deep tissue and sports massage, but with a generous helping of strength and genuine involvement thrown in. Simona and I reconvene in the sauna. Grins all round. The next hour is spent mentally preparing for a two-hour guided vineyard hike, one of many exciting activities that are included in the daily rate. About eight of us gather in the lobby and are handed small glass bottles of water in preparation for our miniadventure, wonderfully lead by cheery Luís. What followed was a fairly brisk trot deep into the valley and back up again. For the more adventurous and free spirited, tree climbing, mountain biking and canyon traversing are all actively encouraged and are offered locally. Six Senses Douro Valley feels a bit like a grand old estate that in time has morphed into a sort of friendly country club, slowly but resolutely planting a desire to return in every guest. It has the enormously welcoming yet humbling nature of your favourite grandmother. To dismiss this very interesting and confident resort would be to deprive oneself of a truly enlightening experience. Go on; promise me you’ll have a look. Timmy Coles-Liddle is the founder of NINE, a private club crafting tailored travel experiences to clients globally. NINE has joined the “Tourism Declares” campaign, an initiative launched to reduce and offset carbon emissions. nineconcierge.com.

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Imperial Vision OUR MISSION Our vision is to fully protect valuables while they are on the move or stored in remote locations. We aspire to bring certainty and reassurance to clients who travel the globe with their treasured goods and need that extra level of security. This is regardless of whether you travel with your goods for business or leisure as our product range is made to suit all needs.

Imperial Secure

mperial Secure is a High-Security Company that brings together a team which combined have more than 20 years of experience in the field of safety and security. We have specialised through the development and manufacturing of our transport security solution revolutionising the means by which valuables are transported by air, land and sea. The key product in our mobile security solutions is our very own, self-developed safety box. Our drive and passion as a company come from the paramount importance we place on the confidentiality and security of our clients and their possessions. We can transfer this drive and passion as a company through the design and functionality of our products, combined with high technological solutions.

IMPERIAL Secure is the first highsecurity luggage company in the world. Our company has a truly revolutionary new concept in secure luggage, combining high-quality design with practical security technology. With our uniquely in-house designed solution we can protect anything from precious metals, raw or cut diamonds, cash and documents as well as jewellery and watches. More than 20 years of experience in the field and five years of development is the foundation on which our new safety box is built. Not only have we wanted to develop and manufacture an exceptional safety box, we wanted to produce the best product on the market that will provide the customer with the best possible control and security regardless of where in the world it may be. For security reasons, only parts of our security system can be mentioned in this presentation, this for our safety and customer safety. This is all you need for AllIn-One Secure Transport.

Contact information: Kimberley.williams@imperialsecure.com 0044 78 913 651 75 Michael Bantz michael.bantz@imperialsecure.com 0045 53 774 405 Michael Frick michael.frick@imperialsecure.com 0044 75 528 468 39 www.imperialsecure.com

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Stay One Degree - The World’s First Trusted Members’ Club for Luxury Travel

Stay One Degree is the world’s first trusted members’ club for luxury travellers. The company connects discerning owners of exclusive homes with a vetted member base of luxury travellers seeking special homes and unique experiences.

All homes that wish to join are carefully handpicked, likewise all guests are vetted, creating a trusted community of travellers with access to exclusive homes all over the world. Members benefit from this inside access and also enjoy preferential rates, exclusive rewards and personal, local recommendations.

For more information and for a sneak peek at the fabulous selection of homes visit: www.stayonedegree.com/en

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MarBella Elix G r e e c e Opening in June - Also Announced Exclusive Partnership with Exploration Society

The Lake Home

New Hotel Opening: MarBella Elix, Greece. Opening in June – Also Announced Exclusive Partnership with Exploration Society

Hilton Dalaman

New Phase Opening: The Lake Home, Hilton Dalaman Opening in June 2020, MarBella Elix is an inspirational new 5* property in a previously undiscovered area of Greece. As the third hotel to join the MarBella Collection portfolio and the brand’s first property outside of the island of Corfu, MarBella Elix will be perched above the beautiful Karavostasi Beach in the Parga region, looking west towards Corfu and Paxos. An area of astounding natural beauty, the luxurious MarBella Elix sits in unspoilt surroundings where the mountains meet the Ionian Sea.

Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa is a luxury beach resort in Turkey with an incredible spa, offering a multitude of activities, relaxation and pure paradise. With an enviable location on the edge of the Dalaman River, Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea, the exclusive beach resort is located just a short walk from Sarıgerme village and close by to historical and natural attractions such as Blue Lagoon and Koycegiz, as well as being easily accessible from Dalaman International Airport. From a private, sandy beach, water sports galore, 10 swimming pools, aqua park, an extensive spa, tennis courts, plus a choice of 21 restaurants and bars – there really is something for everyone at Hilton Dalaman.

Launching in Summer 2020 this exciting new partnership with The Exploration Society is set to transform the way children explore the natural beauty of Greece. Playing on the magic of Greek myths, the adventure club at MarBella Elix will be themed on the heroic tales of Greek gods, goddesses and legends. The new partnership will provide adventure through mythical creatures and deities along with an abundance of outdoor activities including orienteering, horse riding, treasure hunts and water park excursions – never before offered by the MarBella Collection.

This May, Hilton Dalaman is opening a new Lake House, which will include new family swim-up rooms surrounded by a luscious green garden, each overlooking or with direct access to an incredible swimming pool. Situated in an exclusive new development adjacent to the resort, guests will have full access to Hilton Dalaman’s unrivalled facilities.

Family rooms at MarBella Elix (www.marbellacollection.gr/marbella-elix/; +30 26610 71123) start from £180 / €212 per night per room on a half board basis.

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Lake House Rooms at Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa start from £111 per night/per room on.

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reinve nts the 50-me tre c lass wi th i ts ne w GTT 1 60

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The idea was to create the most attractive proposal for a superyacht of just under 50 metres. says Sergei Dobroserdov, Dynamiq founder and CEO

The Dynamiq range of configurable superyachts is set to grow after the yard revealed the first details of its forthcoming GTT 160 project.

he avant-garde, full-aluminium 49.5-metre vessel represents what Dynamiq thinks is essential for modern superyachts – cool looking, efficient and focused on sport and well-being. The GTT 160 is aimed at today’s active owners who want to experience different destinations, or cross the Atlantic quickly and enjoy endless summers in the Med and Caribbean on a more manageable and economical size of yacht. And they are smart enough to be excited by the very attractive starting price of €19,900.000. With racy, contemporary styling by Dobroserdov Design, the GTT 160 offers luxurious accommodation for 12 guests in six cabins and crew quarters for up to eight staff. The master stateroom enjoys pride of place on the main deck forward and features two large fixed side balconies. The vast galley with breakfast bar is designed for use by both a professional chef or for cooking in the company of friends

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The upper deck includes a cinema lounge with a 75-inch screen, as well as a bar area. The sun deck hosts a second helm position with breath taking views and plenty of room for sunbathing. Unusually and a first for a superyacht, the main deck aft is devised as a massive beach club of 120 sqm with a hot tub for 12 people and enclosed Spa area with sauna, hammam and a convertible gymnasium of almost 40 sqm with space for a massage table. These features are more typical of vessels twice her size. The GTT 160 not only looks amazing but also features advanced onboard technology. Dutch hydrodynamic specialist Van Oossanen Naval Architects, Dynamiq long-term partners, designed the fast displacement hull with an aft Hull Vane foil for extra lift underway that decreases drag and improves fuel efficiency. As a result, the yacht can achieve a top speed of 17 knots when fitted with modest MAN 6-cylinder (537 kW) engines. Transatlantic crossings are possible at 14 knots and the maximum range at an economical speed of 10 knots is 4,000 nautical miles. Those looking to prioritise speed can upgrade to the S version, which will offer a more powerful pair of MAN V12-1800 engines for a top speed of 23 knots. An optional hybrid system with zero-emission electric mode can provide silent cruising at up to 8 knots.

“The idea was to create the most attractive proposal for a superyacht of just under 50 metres.” says Sergei Dobroserdov, Dynamiq founder and CEO. “There are so many 50-metre yachts below 500GT available, but they all look very similar with pretty much the same functionality. We asked ourselves ‘What can we bring to the market that makes more sense for our clients?’ The answer was to focus on modern owners’ priorities and leave the less important things aside. So we decided to design the GTT 160 with the accent on the key factors: wellbeing, efficiency and price. In terms of naval architecture, we selected a slender hull with a long waterline that is much more efficient and comfortable than a short, wide one. So rather than maximising the interior volume we analysed everything an owner wants or needs in terms of general arrangement and features. We then arrived at a concept that provides the motion comfort of a 55-metre yacht with a conventional flared bow. To complete the package, the GTT 160 houses a 21-foot tender in the forward garage and is equipped with a touch-and-go helipad platform with a maximum take-off weight 3,000 kg. The GTT 160 can be configured at www.bedynamiq.com with almost endless amount of options.

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CryoAction Rangers FC Rangers FC has chosen CryoAction as its official cryotherapy supplier, as the race for the Scottish Premier League title intensifies.

he Scottish Premier League club has partnered with the leading innovators in cryotherapy to deliver increased gains in performance, and speed up injury recovery times, as the club completes a packed schedule of fixtures. The state-of-the-art CryoAction chamber accommodates up to six people at a time, and has been installed at the Hummel Training Centre. It will give players regular access to whole-body, medical quality, cryotherapy, which can reach subzero temperatures of -160 degrees. The treatment, used by a number of worldclass sports people and Premier League clubs, will help players enhance their training regimes and recovery schedules, as well as reduce inflammation, improve sleep and even increase energy levels. The extreme cold chambers help to relieve and remedy the intense pain and detrimental effects of an injury, and the over exertion of muscles, tendons and ligaments during training and competitive matches.

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Jordan Milsom, head of performance at Rangers FC, said: “We are delighted to announce this official supplier partnership with CryoAction. As a club, we felt CryoAction was the leading company in the industry and a perfect partner to enhance the recovery and performance services provided to our players. “This squad has to deal with a game every three-four days, and the physical and mental strain associated with this is high. It is our job to help the players return to their physical and mental baseline as quickly as possible – in preparation for the next game – and CryoAction helps facilitate this process. Since its installation, over the past six months, we have seen subjective and objective benefits of this modality and it has become firmly ingrained in the players’ daily routine.” David Morris, co-founder and director of CryoAction, said: “Performing at the highest level, week in week out, requires a supreme level of training, however recovery is often overlooked. Adding the best quality

recovery treatments to its already fantastic training schedule will set the club apart, and allow its players to perform more intensely and for longer periods of time. “We are proud to be partnering with a club steeped in so much history and success, and providing its players with the very latest cryotherapy technology. This is our first installation in a Scottish football club, so it will be exciting to see the players and club outperform its competition on the pitch, this season and beyond.” CryoAction is a leader in the development and supply of cryotherapy chambers. It has installed chambers for elite sports people, major sports franchises and the general public across the world, in stadia, spas, gyms, training grounds and domestic residences. To find out more about CryoAction, its extreme cold chambers, and whole-body treatment, visit www.cryoaction.com.

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d i r e c t o r y

Directory Berkeley Homes www.berkeleygroup.com

Sunseeker www.sunseeker.com

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Alexander James Interior Design www.aji.co.uk

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

Patek Philippe www.patek.com

Watches of Switzerland

David Morris

www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

www.davidmorris.com

AG Fine Products

Perfectly Attired

www.agfineproducts.com

www.perfectlyattired.co.uk

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d pi rr eo cp teorrt yy

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Blackphone

Thule

www.blackphone.co.uk

www.thule.com

Quintessentially

Stowers Savile Row

www.quintessentially/com

www.stowers.london

Hastens Beds

AZLuxe VIP Cars

www.hastens.com

www.azluxe.co.uk

The Luxury Network

Nike

www.theluxurynetwork.co.uk

www.nike/uk/official

Bellis Homes

Gaga Milano

www.bellishomes.co.uk

www.gagamilano.com

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d i r e c t o r y

Nobis eu.nobis.com

Bamford London www.bamfordlondon.com

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Swiss Education Group www.swisseducation.com

Urban-Automotive www.urban-automotive.co.uk

Inhous

Ravn Watches

www.inhous.com

www.ravnwatches.com

Galvin Restaurants

Atheneum Hotel

www.galvinrestaurants.com

www.athenaeumhotel.com

Ballers Champagne

Stonehealth Clinic

www.ballerschampagne.com

www.stonehealthclinic.co.uk

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Issue

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In this Edition a Special thanks to

Max Nilov Paul Duck Barry Brooks Sean Hunter Tony Simmons

Duncan Pratt

Craig Boyland

Fraser Reid

David Cronin

Founder / Editor in Chief

Designer

Legal Advisor

Sub Editor

David de Vries

Nathalie Bradbury Quintessentially Editor

Deborah Arthurs

Marcio Quintela

Art Director

Lifestyle Director

Fashion Advisor

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Footballers Life Issue 12

Articles inside

Rising Stars