Footballers' Life - Issue 2

Footballers’ Life Issue 2 €25.00 - £20.00

Magazine

advice & luxury lifestyle

sir Elton John / Vincent Del Bosque Q&A / Brand it like BEckham / Cars and clever money Luxury travel + more Cars • Advice • Business • Fashion • investment • Watches & Jewellery • Phones & audio • Home & Family • Property • Travel

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

C ontribu Quentin Willson

Marcio Quintella

Britains No.1 Car Journalist

Chief Stylist - Louis Vuitton

Fraser Reid

Phil Hall

Partner - Couchmans LLP

Chairman - PHA Media

Katie Small RKH IS Insurance Board Director

Andy Bracken Associate Director at Timothy James and Partners Ltd

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Andy Sutherden Hill+Knowlton Head of Sports and Global Practice Director

Vanessa Brady Chair - British Interior Designers

utors Alexander Green Senior Partner GBP Associates

Jody Macdonald Couchmans LLP

Nathalie Bradbury

Ken Kessler Watch Specialist Journalist and Author

Grant Aitken Founding director of Timothy James Property Advice & Search

Will Sutton

Quintessentially Publishing

Copy writer for Quintessentially Gentleman

Adrian Kajumba

Tina Campanella

National Press sports journalist

Award-winning journalist and author

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

Duncan Edward Pratt

Founder / Editor in chief

F ootballers’ L ife Welcome to the 2nd edition of Footballers’ Life Magazine.

This unique publication focuses on professional football players and we continue to explore more of the opportunities and incentives available to footballers today. We are dedicated to getting the best, unbiased information to players at all levels.

Following the success of the first edition, the line up of senior and connected people associated with footballers life continues to increase and their contributions allow us to provide more varied information to help you make better informed decisions.

We support players by illustrating how they might extend their careers ‘off the field’ and how ‘smart money’ is managed. We also make sure that young players, particularly, get the independent advice that they need early in their careers so that they can retain what they earn.

We have a goal of ‘continuous improvement’ for our content and we need to know if we are hitting the mark. Your feedback is essential in helping us to achieve this aim. So, when you have comments, ideas for subjects to cover, likes, dislikes, etc., please let us know by contacting us through editorial@footballerslife.com We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

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c o n t e n t s

12-17

Quentin Willson - Cars and clever money

22-23 28

24-27

18-20

Sir Elton John

England drive fundraising efforts

Owen Hargreaves on David Moyes

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Dave Lee Q & A - Footballer to Agent

42-45

Villa

46-47

Riccardo Bestetti

Patrick Viera - Western Union

29-31

Brand It Like Beckham

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c o n t e n t s

32-33

Cristiano Ronaldo

48-49

52-53

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36-39

Vincent Del Bosque Q & A

Mr Hare

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Take a bow (tie)!

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The Great Gatsby

56-57

Lacoste’s New Flagship

58-60

FFP Regulations - Jody Macdonald

Perfectly Attired

54-55

Mark/Giusti

66-69

90-92

Tax Planning - Alex Green

Vertu

76-81

Basel World Watch Show

60-63

Sponsorship - Fraser Reid

64-65

Media Advice - Phil Hall

70-71

Insurance tips - Katie Small

72-74

FFP Regulations - Jody Macdonald

82-85

Greubel Forsey

86-88

Ulysse Nardin

94-95 Final Vinyl - Ken Kessler

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c o n t e n t s

100-105 ARTicle

118-119

106

Investment & financial planning - Andy Bracken

112-115

Buying Property - Grant Aitken

120-122

Patrick Hellmann

126-127

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Bad Investments

108-109

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129-143

Home Cinema - Vanessa Brady

Bentley Interiors

Sybarite

Hotels & Resorts (Travel)

144-145

Directory pages

Ca rs

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c a r s

Quentin Willson

Cars and Clever Money I’m going to sound like your Gran. Blowing money in depreciation on high tab cars isn’t clever. The tens of thousands (yes, really) you can lose by buying the wrong motor, in the wrong spec and laden with useless options, you could be saving for your retirement. I’ve known players burn through enough on car depreciation in their lives to buy several houses – literally.

But you can run around in a Bentley GTC, Ferrari 458 or a Merc SLS without doing your brains.

Just remember that if you buy any or those three cars wrong it’ll cost you forty grand just to drive out of the showroom. Depreciation is instant and relentless, and to avoid its worst excesses you need to consider several things. You don’t need to lay out a massive lump of cash, but can lease instead.

You don’t need to personalize your motor with chrome wraps or monogrammed headrests and you mustn’t tick every box on the options list because you’ll get a big fat zero back come resale time.

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Sp r e a d i n g the

Cost Right now it’s a buyers market and carmakers have come up with a raft of easy finance options. Shelling out £200k in one lump for prestige wheels is crazy.

Think instead about a lease or Personal Contract Plan where you pay a couple of grand a month and then hand the car back at the end of the agreement. You don’t own it, don’t have to spend your capital and don’t have to bother with selling later when you’re bored.

And £24k for a year behind the wheel of something special is much less than you’d pay in depreciation.

You could even ask about a VIP programme where some carmakers offer a subsidized lease to have famous players driving their cars. These days nobody is laying out big loot for cars. The clever money is being spent in predictable monthly payments. I won’t tell you what I pay per month for my Mercedes SLS but it’s a lot less than £30k a year.

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The

Pe r s o n a l Touch

I know you want to make your car stand out but doing the bespoke thing isn’t just expensive, it can damage the resale value of your car. Weird colours, vivid red leather trim, 22inch rims and body kits never look good.

Prestige cars always look best in original factory spec with sober colour combos, and I’ve never seen one that looks tasteful all pimped up. Weighing that Range Rover down with monster rims, bull bars, quilted leather interior and a supercharger will cost an extra £40k and maybe return you £5k when you come to sell. That’s a big hit.

Painting that Bentley pink isn’t a good idea either and neither is a five grand sound system or doing another six grand on a set of wheels wide enough to roll a cricket pitch. The more you spend on personalizing your motor, the more you’ll lose when you sell. Hard but true.

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c a r s

C

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your

Options Going for what the salesman calls ‘A Full House Spec’ is tempting, but he’ll be the only one who earns. You can hike up the price of prestige iron by as much as sixty large just by ticking the wrong boxes. And when it comes to factoryfitted options you can count on the fingers of one hand the extras that will be worth any more when you come to sell.

Piped leather, carbon fibre seats, sports suspension, ceramic brakes, coloured calipers, performance exhausts and paddle shift gearboxes all cost bundles, but won’t return a fraction of what you paid for them. Do your research and find out which are the desirable options on your chosen car and stick to them. As a general rule, air con, leather, metallic paint and classy wheels are the only options that translate into extra money when you sell. The rest will be worth buttons.

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g

Big

numbers

Putting a cool number plate on your car makes sense as long as you buy well. Go to a number plate dealer and you’ll usually pay top money, but buy at one of the DVLA’s posh late auctions and you’ll be buying sensibly. These days you go to a DVLA auction and bag a plate with a number one and three letters (1 VPD) for as little as five grand. The dealer will easily charge double that. Single letter numbers (47W) can cost less than ten grand and will actually go up in value. Buy your plate cleverly and it’ll be a fine investment, but pay a big dealer mark-up and you could actually lose money.

I once owned A 13 (the thirteenth A plate ever issued in 1903) and stupidly sold it for £50k. Months later it was up at a dealer for £90,000. That’s some profit margin.

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f e a t u r e

Sir Elton John “Every musician I’ve ever known would like to be a sportsman and every sportsman I’ve known wants to be a musician.”

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Music may be Elton John’s first passion, but another abiding interest runs it a close second: sport. In some ways, it’s an unsurprising second love, as the parallels are numerous.

A devotion to high-level performance, the adrenaline rush of playing in front of big crowds — and the ever-present knowledge that you’re only as good as your last performance.

To rise to — and stay — at the top in both disciplines also requires similar qualities — stamina, endless practice and an unstinting professional approach. Oh yes, and a rich seam of natural talent.

The singer’s most publicised involvement with the sporting world is his enduring connection with Watford.

It was the club he supported as a boy and of which he later became Chairman, guiding it to the highest echelon of the professional game in England.

Football was in his blood from an early age, as his cousin Roy Dwight played professionally, most notably for Nottingham Forest and Fulham. Roy featured — and scored — for Forest in the 1959 FA Cup Final, but a tackle broke his leg in the 33rd minute and in the days before substitutes, his side was down to 10 men. Nevertheless, Forest won 2-1 and he collected an FA Cup winners’ medal — one of the game’s most coveted prizes.

He has a general love of sport all round, and recently led to the formation of Rocket Sports Management, dedicated to seeking out and nurturing future sporting talent.

Elton said: “Just like young musicians or artists, budding sportspeople need guidance.”

“Just like young musicians or artists, budding sportspeople need guidance.”

Musicians supporting a football team may not be something new, but John went further than most when he got involved in running the club, and eventually assuming the role as chairman.

He was not just a figurehead Chairman, and in Easter 1977, he set about find the club a new manager to match his ambition of taking Watford to the top.

“I asked Don Revie (then national team manager) who to go after and he didn’t hesitate,” said Elton at the time. “He gave me the name of Graham Taylor.”

After an initial courtship while he convinced Graham of the seriousness of his ambitions for the club, it was a marriage made in heaven. One of the great double-acts of the modern football era was born and over the next five years Watford rose from the basement of the game to its penthouse.

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r f me aa st ut er e

“People should understand the power of football and what it means to people in the community around them.”

Eltons Top 5 players Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi Gareth Bale, Wayne Rooney and Yaya Toure.

Having moved through Divisions Four and Three, promotion to the top flight came in May 1982.

But it didn’t end there.

The Hornets finished runnersup in their first Division One season, qualifying them to play in European club competitions in the 1983/84 campaign.

It was at the end at that campaign that a “family circle” was completed. Watford reached the 1984 FA Cup Final, and tearfully, Chairman Elton stepped out on to the turf of Wembley Stadium — the same turf trodden by his cousin Roy 25 years earlier.

When Taylor left Watford to join Aston Villa, Elton eventually sold his majority shareholding in 1990, it led to Watford’s tumble back down the leagues.

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But the pair re-united in 1997, and again Watford enjoyed success on the pitch – culminating in their promotion to the Premier League in 1999.

Though he finally relinquished his role as chairman in 2002, he is still the club’s Honorary life-president remains an avid fan.

“Every musician I’ve ever known would like to be a sportsman and every sportsman I’ve known wants to be a musician.

“They’re both great levellers and there is a feeling of togetherness. Sport and music, more than anything, bring people together.

“People should understand the power of football and what it means to people in the community around them.

“I never want to be without Watford.”

b us ines s

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England drive fundraising efforts England footballers foundation annual charity golf day 20th April 2013: With the golf season now in full swing, England players past and present today took to the fairways of The Shire in the annual England Footballers Foundation Charity Golf Cup. The players gave their extra time for England to help raise awareness and vital funds for the England Footballers Foundation’s charity partners.

Ex-players Ray Wilkins, Dean Ashton and Mark Bright, were joined by BBC Football Focus host Dan Walker, as well as football fans and golf enthusiasts, as England stars Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson and Jake Livermore led the fourball tournament, played on the renowned Masters course designed by golf legend Seve Ballesteros.

The players showed their skills with the smaller ball by participating in a series of trick shots including keepy uppies, striking a ball from a three foot high tee and seeing who could hit the longest distance using a driver with a shaft twice the normal length.

Jermain Defoe said: “The day has been really enjoyable and so well supported, which all of the players are so grateful for. It’s been great for us to be able to get so close to the fans and see them rise to the challenge. The money raised here today will go directly to our charity partners to ensure that all of them can continue to do the great work that they carry out across the country.”

Taking part in the fourball Cup were representatives from The British Forces Foundation and Rays of Sunshine who are two of the charities who will be

benefitting from the work of the England Footballers Foundation. Representing The British Forces Foundation were Major Chris Barnard, Lieutenant Colonel Terry Sherlock, Major Martin Flather and Captain Bob Pace, all competent golfers who have served their country in conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also taking part was Adam Phillips, a 19 year old kidney transplant patient who represented Great Britain in the transplant games. Adam was invited as a guest of Rays of Sunshine who previously granted his wish to play with some semi pros at The Grove back in 2010.

The charities that will benefit from the golf day and other fundraising events planned by the players over the next 12 months are the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, The British Forces Foundation and Rays of Sunshine, as well as their own initiative the England Footballers Foundation Academy which is designed to meet the needs of disadvantaged youngsters in deprived communities. Focusing on providing them with educational, coaching and life skills, the EFF Academy aims to help tackle a variety of economic and social issues including education, crime, racial and drug abuse.

For further information on the England Footballers Foundation and their work with the charity partners visit www.englandfootballersfoundation.com or follow @EFFCharity on Twitter.

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Patrick V ieira ...believes football can reach out to help disadvantaged children around the world – both in terms of exercise and education.

The obvious health and social benefits associated with engaging youngsters in the sport are obvious.

But Vieira has also thrown his weight behind a new initiative from Western Union which aims to turn the beautiful game into vital school opportunities for kids around the globe.

Building on from last season, the PASS initiative works on the basis of turning every successful pass made in the Europa League into school days.

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PASS will provide teacher training and student scholarships through nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), with an initial focus on eleven countries – Brazil, China, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

“Where I come from, opportunities for a quality education are rare,” explained Vieira the former AS Cannes, AC Milan, Arsenal FC, Juventus, FC Internazionale Milano, Manchester City FC and French international player, who was born in Senegal before moving to France at the age of eight and is currently football development executive at Manchester City FC.

“Where I come from, opportunities for a quality education are rare,...”

“Football was my ticket to success, but for the vast majority of young people education is the key that allows them to become whatever they want to be. That’s why I’m supporting this campaign. It will benefit students, teachers and schools across the world, particularly in places that need it most, like Senegal where I was born.”

David Taylor, CEO of UEFA Events, said “As well as being broadcast to fans in over 200 countries, European football is the aspiration for many players around the world and last season players representing 113 different countries were involved in the UEFA Europa League.

“Through Western Union’s PASS initiative, many of those players will be able to give something back to their hometown communities beyond simply the excitement and entertainment they create on the pitch.”

The PASS initiative will convert each successful pass completed during each match played from the Group Stage to the final of the 2012/2013 UEFA Europa League into funds to cover one full day of school for one student, to be allocated and distributed based on the educational needs and costs of each identified market. This initiative will run for the three years of Western Union’s sponsorship of the UEFA Europa League until 2015.

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b u s i n e s s

About

Western Union The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. As of June 30, 2012, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of approximately 510,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2011, The Western Union Company completed 226 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $81 billion of principal between consumers, and 425 million business payments.

About the Western Union Foundation The Western Union Foundation is dedicated to creating a better world, where the ability to realize dreams through economic opportunity is not just a privilege for the few but a right for all. With the support of The Western Union Company, its employees, Agents, and business partners, The Western Union Foundation works to realize this vision by supporting education and disaster relief efforts as pathways toward a better future.

Our combined social ventures efforts make life better for individuals, families and communities around the world.

Since its inception, The Western Union Foundation has committed more than $81.7 million in grants and other giving to more than 2,551 nongovernmental organizations in more than 124 countries and territories.

To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org.

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About Western Union’s UEFA Europa League Sponsorship In July 2012, Western Union announced a three year deal as the new Global Partner and the Presenting Sponsor of the UEFA Europa League. This sponsorship of the world’s largest club competition, comprising 193 professional football teams from 53 countries, provides Western Union with a unique opportunity for worldwide brand visibility, with the competition broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories, and enjoying a global live match unique reach of 634 million per season.

Drawing upon this global reach will allow Western Union, with its extensive network of approximately 510,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories, to engage its customers and Agents around the world in the excitement of the UEFA Europa League. The agreement also provides video, digital and social media content opportunities, and use of the UEFA Europa League brand assets. This partnership will run through to the UEFA Europa League Final in 2015.

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Owen Hargreaves

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David Moyes has been warned he will only be a success at Manchester United if he delivers the big prizes – and wins them in style.

Former England star Owen Hargreaves knows what it takes for a manager to survive at the highest level having won the Champions League at two of Europe’s top clubs. Hargreaves flourished under Ottmar Hitzfeld at Bayern Munich before he again conquered the continent at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson. And he is under no illusion about the task which faces Moyes as he swaps life at Everton for the full glare of the United hot-seat.

Hargreaves said: “If the manager doesn’t have that will to win, that is well known to exist at United, he is not in the right place. I have never been in a team that hasn’t won something, that’s the bare minimum of expectation – to win. And not just to win but win with style, and win on the biggest stage. That’s a pressure. Anybody taking on that job, regardless of who it is – and they could be the greatest manager after Sir Alex Ferguson – there will be added pressure to the situation. Football is a game where you will have to pass an exam every three or seven days. People look on it as pressure, but it is an opportunity for him to further his legacy.”

As new managerial jobs go, inheriting a team that has just won the Premier League hardly sounds like the biggest challenge. But Hargreaves says beginning a new era at the end of the 26year Ferguson dynasty will bring a different kind of challenge for Moyes. That will be making his mark to win the respect of his players and staff, while making sure he does nothing to change what is now a finely oiled machine around Old Trafford and the club’s Carrington training ground.

The former midfielder, who also won the Premier League with the Reds in 2008, added: “How can anybody come in and say I am capable of changing this for the better? They are not. Nobody is. The manager will need the players, but obviously he cannot put a huge impact on the club – it’s going

to be interesting to see how it all plays out.

“He is his own person, he is going to have to come in and put his own blueprint down. To try and clone somebody else is never going to work, he is going to have to come in and do his own thing.”

“It’s a big change, but the club is in a great place.

They have great players and great infrastructure, and I think it’s more about coming in and not changing the current model rather than coming in and putting your own imprint – As long as he accepts that, he will be fine. The infrastructure is in place, everything is set up. Nobody is going to come in there and be allowed to change the landscape, I can’t imagine that. It’s the biggest club, they have better facilities, better staff and people than probably any of the clubs any other manager has been at. So it will have to be something where the new manager has to come in and adapt to the current model, I can’t imagine someone else is going to have free reign to change anything.

“Why would you? They are the current champions anyway.”

Ow e n H a r g r e a ves is one of the new experts s i g n e d u p t o f r o nt BT Sport’s coverage of the P r emi er L eag ue whi ch begi ns next seaso n .

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Andy Sutherden

Brand It Like

Beckham Hill+Knowlton - Head of Sports and Global Practice Director

Rewind to 2001. Michael Parkinson unleashes his indomitable style on the Beckhams and the world’s preeminent chat show host tickles out of Posh the pet name that kept headline writers busy for the next 12 years: “ what better person to look at than my husband… I call him Goldenballs.”

In the immediate aftermath of David Beckham announcing his retirement, those of us in the world of sports marketing were invited to explain why Goldenballs was so golden? In considering my response, it prompted some reflection on the things those of us involved in sponsorship adored about working with David Beckham.

Sure, Beckham had good looks and good form on his side. Not every player has the privilege of playing for some of the world’s best clubs, in four different countries, and marries into ready-made notoriety. All of these

factors increased the size of audience looking at – and interested in – David Beckham. Sponsor interest quickly came but converting interest to signed endorsement deals took something much smarter. Much, much smarter.

Beckham was one of the first professional footballers to think of himself as a brand… and good brands build and sustain strong reputations that take years to achieve but seconds to lose. Every professional footballer today must have the same sense of self awareness and social responsibility that Beckham felt 20 years ago. He knew very early on that he had become a role model to millions of people. Reputation is everything when sponsors come knocking and the simple truth is, Beckham knew exactly what to do (through good management and good instinct) when it came to creating a good reputation.

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b u s i n e s s

I can distill it down to five things that all players could learn from Beckham when it comes to maximizing their own commercial potential and building a career beyond playing football:

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Embrace the community. Building a good reputation starts at a very local level, with people interacting and observing you doing good things in the community. Of course balance is required, but do not underestimate the importance attending the local school or club; visiting children in hospital; supporting a local charity; or mentoring under-privileged children. Your Club’s ‘Football In The Community’ team provides the foundation upon which you can build a strong reputation.

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Be ‘media savvy’. Develop your own social media profile and fans will follow. Where there’s audience, there’s interest from sponsors. Become comfortable in dealing with the media and work with the Club’s Press Officers to understand what the media want, and how they want it. Media training is always recommended and should be another skill you have as a professional footballer rather than it being a luxurious extra.

3

Become a good corporate citizen. Learn about your Club’s sponsors. Ask the Commercial Team about the role they play at your Club. Make yourself available for sponsor days and be interested and knowledgeable about their business. The skills and discipline of being an elite sportsperson are often used by companies as examples of what it takes to be successful in business. Remember, you are a role model to sponsors too.

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Fewer, bigger. That’s the golden rule when it comes to sponsor deals. Sign too many, and your personal value becomes diluted. It will also compromise the time you need for training and other Club commitments. This may seem like a luxurious choice, especially in the current economy. But professional footballers can become over exposed very easily and – as with many things in life – you are the company you keep. So think about what any sponsor association says about you as a person. This will quickly define your own ‘brand’.

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“Fail to plan, and you plan to fail”. Whether Beckham took inspiration or not from this famous quote from Sir Winston Churchill, there is no doubt Beckham had a plan. Every sponsor felt they worked with a partner as well as a professional footballer. His passion for playing had a positive rub on every child he ever met, possibly priming a continued career in coaching and academies. Some players, like Graham Le Saux or Andy Townsend, polish their media skills. Others take on further education whilst still playing and find second careers after retiring. Whatever the plan, just make sure you have one because the playing career of a professional footballer is relatively short.

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So if you want to Brand It Like Beckham consider these five tips and however obvious they may seem, remember that the best role models are the ones who always lead by example.

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C ristiano R onaldo

How t he Rea l M a dr i d s ta r c o u ld pav e a new way in de a l s i n e u r o pe a n f o o t b a l l Manchester United’s reported efforts to tempt Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford herald a new development in how player deals can be constructed. Whether United are successful in their attempts to bring one of the world’s best players back to the Premier League remains to be seen, and you can expect plenty of speculation over the course of the summer.

But just as interesting is the way such a move would be financed – not just by the club, but by interested sponsors too. United sold Ronaldo to Madrid for £80m in 2009, but a deflation in transfer fees since then mean the Spanish giants would have to do business for around £55m.

The big hurdle would be whether the Premier League leaders could offer a salary to rival the player’s current £220,000-a-week deal and stay within the new UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations, which come into force next season.

But there is a way round those rules which would see a player agree a salary with a team and then sign a separate endorsement package with the club’s sponsors. And it is exactly that model which is being considered at Old Trafford, 32

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with new club sponsors Chevrolet interested in making Ronaldo their global ambassador to help bring him back to Manchester.

Chevrolet’s parent company, General Motors, recognises the huge appeal Ronaldo could have in the US, and also in South America, with Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup. There is a potential stumbling block with their £370m seven-year sponsorship deal not due to start until 2014, but there are said to be efforts being made behind the scenes to buy current backers, Aon, out of their deal a year early. If that is secured, what better way to herald the start of their deal than to hook up with the Ronaldo brand? The player would become a global ambassador for General Motors, the face to boost sales in Europe and also crack America.

Such a deal would mean the wage demands of Ronaldo would be offset, allowing United to come up with a package which would satisfy both the player and UEFA’s new rules. It is a model for how a big-money transfer can be done to comply with FFP, and United are at the forefront.

Kit manufacturers Nike are also Ronaldo’s personal sponsors, and Castrol has invested heavily in Ronaldo and would not be averse to the extra publicity from their man playing for United. The Chevrolet deal remains the key. If it can be brought forward a year, Ronaldo’s return is a real possibility.

Obviously not all transfers would operate at the same huge financial level of the Portugal star. But the model would be there to use in all future deals, especially high profile ones with

the most marketable names.

Such packages have become the norm in America in sports such as baseball, basketball and American Football. They also take a huge amount of financial pressure off individual clubs, allowing the long-term burden of a player’s contract to be shared out.

So, if this move does happen, it could be the blueprint for future transfers – which may not only be good for players, but also for the stability of a club’s business model.

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Q &A

Dave Lee footballer to agent

Playing Career Clubs: Tottenham, Gillingham, Southend, Hull, Brighton, Aldershot.

Dave Lee came through the ranks at Tottenham with the likes of Peter Crouch and Ledley King – but found his professional career cut short by injury at the age of just 27. With playing no longer an option, he decided against moving into scouting and coaching in favour of becoming a football agent.

Here, he tells Footballer’s Life just how he managed to cross the divide – and admits the life of an agent is much harder than people think.

Q A

Did being a player help you and if so how?

Q

What were your main thoughts on the agents industry before you entered it and what do you think now?

Being an ex-player is a massive advantage.

An agent should be able to watch his clients and advise them what they need to do and what they should stop doing. An agent should be more than just popping up when there’s a contract to be done! Also footballers are a certain type of person and being in similar situations as they have been through, both good and bad, is an advantage.

Q A

How did you then become an agent?

When I picked up my injury my agent at the time asked if I’d help him with recruiting new players for his company. I was doing that when Skillequal approached me to work for them along with a Premier League club to do their European scouting but I chose the agent route. I knew if I could convince a player to come with Skillequal I would be able to work hard for them and keep them on board.

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I thought it was an easy job looking from the outside but it’s far from that. When I first started I spent most of my time trying to get scouts and managers on the phone but now after a few years they’re always calling me to see what’s about and what do I think of certain players etc It’s tough, you can’t go it alone or you’ll get eaten alive! It’s best to try to get into an established company and prove yourself, and you can’t expect things to happen overnight as it takes time

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What is the biggest thing you’ve learned?

That I wasn’t working hard enough as a player and also that you have to push young players to better themselves as there is a lack of desire in most young players.

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What is the best and worst part about being an agent?

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Best bit of advice you’ve been given?

Seeing the players you look after getting on and doing well. I guess it’s like being a proud dad.

But on the other side, you speak to some parents and you know straight away that the kid hasn’t got a chance as the parents think they should be at Real Madrid and have Nike sending them the latest boots every week. We’ve seen it thousands of times and these boys never get on in the game.

“You can’t change a boys character.” I’ve signed players that people have said ‘they have no desire or discipline’ and I’ve felt I could change them but you can’t!

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Agents in general and the industry have a bad reputation in some quarters. Why do you think that is and is it fair?

There are a lot of agents about so it’s very competitive and some agents go around trying to jump in on deals and punt other agents’ players around hoping to get some interest then go direct to the player and say “if you sign with me I can get you here or there.”

That’s not how we work at all. We are straight and honest with people, maybe we lose the odd player because we’ve been too honest. But if you’re in it for the long term it’s the only way to be.

There are far too many agents telling their players ‘this and that club are interested’ then, when the summer comes and there are no offers, the player is disheartened.

As a player all I wanted was my agent to work hard for me, believe in me and be honest. It’s a simple job if you stick to these three rules.

There are plenty of good agents out there, it’s just the bad ones that spoil the reputation of the rest.

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You have done and still do a lot of work with young players up and down the country - what do you think about the advice they are given about their careers both good and bad?

Always look at the bigger picture and where they want to be in five years’ time, not how much money do you want in your back pocket at 18.

What good is that if you’re then released from a club and have to go take a career on £500pw in League Two after you’ve been earning £4000 per week in a reserve side?

For example there is a boy now, an u16, that is a good player, I wouldn’t say he’s top but he’s got chance.

He’s at a Championship club who like him and will push him through as quick as they can but he’s decided to go to a Premier League club, which has a history of paying very good money to kids but have produced hardly no players into their first team! Where’s the long term vision there?

Surely stay at the Championship club get into their first team then move for £2m or £3m and with 100 games behind you and go straight into a Premier League first team? For me that’s bad advice, but again an agent would have made a big fee out of the deal.

Young players these days are mentally weaker than they were 10 or 15 years ago. We had good discipline when I was a YTS boy. You’d never answer back and you’d never be allowed to speak to a first team player.

These days kids are high five-ing the likes of Wayne Rooney and John Terry in the training ground thinking they’re already there.

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What would you like to see change in the agents industry?

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How do you see the future of the agents industry?

I’m not sure that scrapping the agents’ exam would be a good idea as you’ve already got too many agents trying to go around nicking everyone’s players and filling the boys’ heads with rubbish to try and get them to sign with them. There needs to be some sort of education and advice available to kids and their parents through the FA as some parents are the problem. When you are dealing with young players, some parents see their kids as a meal ticket and would sign with anyone who will pay them the most. They could be anyone.

The established companies will be bigger and stronger and the smaller weaker ones will fall dissolve slowly.

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Which manager has had the biggest impact on your coaching career?

I’ve gained a lot of experience from some very good managers, and some not so good, over the years. However, I have learned from all of them. I especially appreciated and valued my time with Miguel Munoz who was my first manager at Real Madrid. I also valued Luis Molowny who was my “football father”. Both have since passed away.

And finally, I also had two Yugoslavian coaches (Miljanic and Boskov) who were very different and distinctive in their coaching methods but hugely influenced myself and other colleagues to become managers ourselves. I’ve left out so many others that helped me at different stages of my coaching career and will always have great memories of the impact they brought to my life.

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What was the greatest difference in managing your national team as opposed to club football?

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In club football, the level of personal contact is high and players tend to know a lot about each other. In a national team it is different because the players spend less time together and the level of knowledge is, of course, somewhat lower and sometimes there can be personality clashes. Also, there is less time to work on particular tactics or plays with the National team and you have to understand and support the styles and philosophies they bring from their clubs.

In club football, there is never time to be bored. As a manager, you have to make lots of small decisions and, depending on whether they come off, these can reinforce or reduce his authority. With club football, you can make progress day by day and little by little you get closer to where you want to be.Wheras with the National team the approach has to be different, you need to keep it simple and prioritize the key tasks.

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Has the pressure increased since winning the World Cup in 2010 and the European championship in 2012?

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How does it feel to work with some of the best players this generation has ever seen, and do you believe that success has come in finding a way to let these individual players play?

A

We were encouraged by what we achieved in Vienna 2008 without looking back too much on the past. We didn’t rest on our laurels and whilst players may have changed, we didn’t alter our style of play. I believe that maintaining good relationships within the team is a cornerstone of our success and that it is important that we don’t stop to admire our past success and that we keep moving forward together towards the new goals that are ahead of us.

Q

I’m not sure how to explain it, it’s not pressure just a greater responsibility.

But I prefer that responsibility rather than the bitterness of not winning.

In recent years, football has a seen lot of changes, with the impact of, for example, sports science, psychology etc. What do you think will happen in the football world in the next 5 to 10 years?

A

I think there is a natural essence, a beauty in football that should not change. Sure times change, but the young players of today are not the same as we were and we need to look at things through their eyes. The manager needs to adapt continuously and to be aware of any changes in the player’s development.

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You’ve played with and against some great players in your time. Who were the best in your team and in your opponent’s teams?

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I’ve known many great players and I especially admire Pirri, Hierro and Raúl. Also some great foreign players like Ronaldo, Zidane, Roberto Carlos and many more superb players.

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What are your best memories as a player and as a manager?

I think the most important thing has been to have had the respect of the players, no matter where I have been, both professionally and personally. These are my best memories. We’ve won a lot together, we’ve also lost together. My best memories are the 36 years I spent in one club, Real Madrid, from the youth teams through to the first team. A fantastic journey! Also, these last few years with the national team and what we have won together has also been incredible.

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Do you have any advice for young players today?

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Do you think you’ll ever manage at Club level again?

Have Passion for football. Be Obedient and Listen. Give maximum Effort.

Develop your technical and physical qualities and most of all, just love the game!

I think that what I am doing now will be my last job, but no one can be too sure what will happen in the future. Better not to know.

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What do you think is the biggest difference in football today compared to our generation?

What about the players?

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When you look at the basics I don’t think there have been many changes and I’m not sure I could draw a clear line between then and now. However, the tactical aspect of the game has become and is becoming more relevant every day. But I think that the player’s individual talent is vital and the balance between individual talent and how the team is organized is fundamentally important.

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Do you think that your experiences as a player, club manager and National team coach have enriched your life?

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Of course, without a doubt! Football has been my life and I am very grateful. We must defend and fight for this beautiful game against the various threats that exist today in football. We must protect, pamper and really look after the “world of football”. Truthfully, it’s hard to separate the personal and professional life.

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Villa Cufflinks, sophisticated baubles in the universe of men’s fashion It was in 1876 that the eminent and rather aptly named goldsmith Benvenuto Villa (translated as “welcome home”) established the first jewellery workshop in the heart of Milan. He was also an accomplished sculptor and alchemist whose prolific works had earned him numerous prestigious medals and awards, by the end of the 19th century, at the Exposition Universelle de Paris. Benvenuto was graced with talent, but also an immense personality. Eccentric and imaginative, he was renowned for being avant-garde in his work, introducing new and unknown precious alloys, such as black gold, into his creations.

He had a son, Giuseppe, who took the business to even greater heights. He was equally gifted and made a name creating sumptuous materials woven from gold thread.

Milanese society had long been renowned for an innate sense of dramatic style and showmanship. In no time, the Villa name had garnered more than a few loyal clients in the city, all of them eager to show off their spoils to an envious public gallery.

“Tortoise” cufflinks in coral, round bars in jade and yellow gold 18 kt

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“Meteoriti” cufflinks with round bars in hematite and white gold 18 kt

“Horglass” cufflinks in rock crystall, onyx and diamonds with round bars in black onyx and white gold 18 kt

Success paved the way for further expansion and, by 1930, Villa’s via Manzoni boutique had opened for business.

This was an excellent opportunity, right after the First World War, for the company to carve a new niche, creating and refining precious stones for the glamour-starved elite and the Italian Royal Family. Burmese rubies, Kashmir sapphires, tremblant diamond necklaces and the Paesaggi or “Pastoral” brooches bedecked in coloured stones – all were exquisite. Giuseppe must have felt proud as he witnessed Milan’s high society turn out for the opening of the Teatro alla Scala draped in his decorative creations.

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The fourth generation, Filippo and Marco, took over in 1980 and remain to this day. They take their craft very seriously and have studied extensively to point the company in new directions, especially for men’s accessories. Alongside studies at the Gemmological Institute of America in New York, they have picked up some priceless nuggets of information from experienced stone traders around the world. They’ve injected modern themes into vintage or ancient styles, particularly with their striking Byzantine mosaic pieces. No room for the dull or ordinary here – Benvenuto would have approved.

Recent collections have included 15 different colours and tones of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, tanzanite, spinels, and peridots – blue, pink and

yellow sapphires. Some of the most memorable pieces are the extraordinary cufflinks that have become a prized part of the Villa collection. We’re treated to a symphony of jade, lapis lazuli, hematite, rare shells and “oneof-a-kind” pieces. Angels and demons, dog’s heads, sparkling solitaires for the strong-minded, delicate buttons, material threaded knots, customised initials for the more discreet – all carefully crafted within Villa’s Milan laboratory.

It was once said that “cufflinks are among the few types of men’s jewellery considered to be socially credible, like watches and belt buckles: they are functional, thus acceptable”. If you’re going to start anywhere, start here.

“Cage” ring with emerald cut tanzanite ct. 25,02 and diamonds ct. 1,63 mounted in white gold 18 kt / Ring with 3 orange garnet ct. 27,30 and diamonds ct. 1,68 mounted in white gold 18 kt / “Ivy” ring with 1 cushon shape mint grossular ct. 13,84 and antique cut diamonds ct. 2,07 mounted in white gold 18 kt / “Guns” cufflinks in hematite with round bars in hematite and white gold 18 kt / “Skull” micromosaic cufflinks in diamonds with round bars in black onyx and white gold 18 kt

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“Rose� brooch with diamonds ct.

18,78 and white gold 18 kt

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Riccardo Bestetti

The best Italian bespoke shoes As part of Italy’s growing stable of bespoke craftsmen, Riccardo Freccia Bestetti’s singleminded approach has paid off. The Milanese artisan’s shoe creations are never short of exquisite, but they’re also daring. They celebrate elegance with a generous dash of eccentricity – much like Riccardo himself. Every stage of his creation process is carried out by hand in the tiny Vigevano laboratory he likes to call his “headquarters”. He prefers to be tucked away here, far from any “ill advisers for whom machines are sadly of paramount importance”.

In 1994, Maestro Bestetti was on a trip to Texas when he purchased a pair of traditional madeto-measure Texan boots. Although they’d been tailored to the specific shape of his feet, Riccardo was not entirely satisfied and visited Texas on several occasions to glean what he could from

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the older Texan bootmakers. He learnt to “steal with the eyes”, effectively observing trade secrets and returned to Italy with one singleobjective: to create and manufacture made-to-order, handmade Texan cowboy boots.

Thanks to his extraordinary talent, Riccardo cultivated a client base right across the globe, revelling in the different styles and ideas he encounters. Some of his clients’ more lavish tastes have pushed Riccardo to stretch himself, but he would say they merely drive him to perfection. Riccardo is proud that his shoes are made-to-measure, and that they adhere perfectly to the shape and movement of the foot. He has succeeded where others might not – producing eclectic and exclusive Texan cowboy boots that have lost none of their original character.

Three shoes entirely hand-made just after final polishing

Crocodile uppers are hand-stitc hed as part of the product ion process

Bespoke hand-made crocodile shoes, the brown colour is blended by hand

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Mr Hare

Shoes you can attach some romance to “Educating the man who only wears sneakers” is a phrase coined by Mr Hare. Marc Hare, a dreadlocked surfer from Croydon, is a refreshingly original creator whose eponymous brand is responsible for some of the most versatile shoes in Mayfair. With decades of experience in marketing, Marc reached a critical point in 2008 when his fortunes were against him. He lost his job, went through a divorce and dislocated his knee – an injury that annoyingly prevented him from surfing. It was at this moment that Marc embarked on a “tapas road trip” in the foothills of Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

The concept of Mr Hare was as unplanned as his original trip. The seeds of change were sown one fine day in a tapas bar as Marc sat admiring the woven sandals of an elderly drinker. Marc could see there

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was room for improvement in these sandals with a few small tweaks. So he set about tweaking.

Five years on and Mr Hare has the luxury of designing his shoes wherever he so chooses.

Currently it’s Empoli in Tuscany.

He calls Mr Hare a “black shoe brand” because the designs are perfect for stylish evening wear. There’s a shoe for every setting of course, from a bar in Soho to a beach shack on the Bermuda shores. Marc is eager to stress that he isn’t limited to evening wear, though he loves the thought of his friends dancing the night away in a pair of Mr Hare’s shoes.

The Burrough. A contemporary and lightweight oxford made from soft nappa leather with a hard vachetta toecap and rear studs

The ‘Bacon’. A classic monkstrap shoe which rolls on a thick rubber commando sole so will roll and tumble anywhere you do. Confident in its own deft presence but heavy enough to dish out a lesson to anyone in need. Much like its namesake, a Soho legend and one of the greatest painters ever

The ‘Wilde’. I decided to turn up the dandy to eleven on this loafer style with a deep rich suede vamp and some delicate tassels astride some fast deco lines along the length. Obviously there was only one Soho Dandy whose name these were going to carry.

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TAKE A BOW (TIE )!

Who would have thought we would see the day when the dickie bow made it back into the mainstream? Not so long ago the tricky dickie was relegated to weddings, awards ceremonies and workwear of yesteryear. But the sartorial sands have well and truly shifted, and now it’s practically de rigueur to wear one with your day suit. For something discreet and understated, go to bow tie kings D&G, where Messi gets his ‘silk papillons’ made bespoke. Marwood have quite the avant garde styles, with pink silk

on black and white or bold houndstooth making a statement for £105. Brooks Brothers or J Crew will furnish you with something trad – silk or pinstripe – for around £55, while Alexander McQueen is maverick with skull embroidery, £110, and Lanvin is the place for something deeply luxurious with more than a hint of flamboyance. Think a generously proportioned bow tie in claret camoflage silk, £75, and you’ll be on the right track.

See www.mrporter.com for a selection.

Lanvin

Marwood

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

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Ga tsb y style

is truly

Burgundy Stripe Regatta Blazer Gatsby fever is gripping the nation, and it’s not only the movie theatres benefiting from Baz Luhrmann’s remake of the F Scott FItzgerald classic. Fashion houses are getting in on the act too. Designers across the globe are putting out their own take on the dapper looks from the Great Gatsby – not least Brooks Brothers, who were not only mentioned in the original 125 novel, but also designed the outfits for the leading men in the Luhrmann blockbuster. To grab a slice of Jazz Age style, think

Gre a t

Pink Stripe Linen Jacket colourful suits – pink, pastel blue, checks. Shirts should be top quality and monogrammed, if you like – you won’t go far wrong with Turnbull and Asser on Savile Row. Wingtip shoes and a natty straw boater, weather permitting, will finish the look with aplomb. Your end goal should be to channel, as Gatsby costume designer Catherine Martin puts it, the ‘dreamlike world of pristine green lawns and lavish parties’ depicted in F Scott Fitzgerald’s work. And that, surely, is never going to be a bad thing.

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Perfectly Attired, Providing quintessentially British tailoring in a unique form

Lydia and Paul arriving at Stratstone of Mayfair for the fitting with Zin Zan

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Lydia, Lisa and Paul of Perfectly Attired offer an honest approach and personal service for busy professionals.

Based in London and New York, they have developed a style of working that enables their clients to relax and really enjoy the experience.

Working closely with stars of the sports, media and business worlds, we understand that a client’s time is precious, with this in mind we provide bespoke tailoring while still allowing for the busy modern diary. We ensure that we are always available to assist with every aspect of their outfits, as we have a wide range of sartorial options and ideas with us to fully ensure they look their best.

The concept of a visit from a personal tailor and style adviser in the comfort of one’s own home, office or a venue of choice appeals hugely to their high net-worth clients. Not only does it avoid many trips to a shop, but becomes a relationship that offers much for both parties. Our role is to offer advice if you have a particular vision, help keep you abreast of modern fashion, or if you simply want some inspiration for your wardrobe, and the team can offer suggestions about styles to perfectly match your taste.

Our personal level of service has created lasting relationships with our clientele, such that we understand and cater to their personalities, lifestyles and needs. We believe clothes should be an expression of oneself, and we aim to make the whole experience of working with our team of clothiers fun. Our clients trust our judgement and we dress our clients with fabrics that they will really enjoy.

For many clients, it is purely the convenience and choice that personal tailoring offers which makes sense for them, but for others, it’s just because they can!

Having been fortunate to work with many sporting legends such as Steve Finn, Audley Harrison, David Haye, ‘Junior’ Harrison and Jason Leonard, we are often told that an ‘off the peg’ fit is just not workable for their unique athletic physiques, therefore their suits need to be tailored, so the option to have clothes made especially to their pattern, and with their personality and lifestyle in mind is a great fit. Over the years our team have gained an excellent reputation for understanding those challenges and delivering clothes that both sports men and women have hankered for.

Zinzan Brooke, the 6’ 3” former New Zealand Rugby Legend pictured here, enjoyed his bespoke experience so much he is now an Ambassador for the company. “the fit is so much more comfortable than my previous suits” In the past he struggled to find a suit that he really enjoyed, and so he was delighted with this Super 150’s Cashmere & Wool blended wool in rich blue, as the shape allows movement across his sporting frame.

The personal touches and inspiration available are only limited by ones imagination. And if you don’t fancy a splash of colour, we do have suits in All Black!!

The Perfectly Attired UK operation prefer to use cloths milled here in the UK, at the heart of the textiles industry, where the quality is both exceptional and British. We pride ourselves on creating and producing

our ranges in our respective countries. So here in England, it means that you will enjoy the quality of true quintessentially British tailoring but with one twist – that we visit you. Lydia and Paul are adamant that there top priorities are the quality of the fit, construction and our unparalleled customer service.

The word ‘bespoke’ originates the 17th century when a particular bolt of cloth was reserved especially for a client, or “bespoken for”. We have thousands of fabrics from the finest cloth houses which look stunning when paired with the personal touches with make our suits unique. it means that you will enjoy the quality of true British tailoring but with one twist – that we visit you.

Our top priorities are the quality of the fit, construction and our unparalleled customer service.

Perfectly Accessorised will launch this year, offering an outstanding range of products from belts, cufflinks, jewellery, pocket scarves to ties, giving you the perfect opportunity to shop online too. Working with companies such as Gate 8, who provide the perfect travelling suit carrier used by Lydia and Paul and seen above.

Lydia, Lisa and Paul all agree that at Perfectly Attired, they pride themselves on their reputation of working by word of mouth.

Regardless of the occasion, whether it be social, business or casual - we’ve got you covered.

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M ark G iusti For Mark Farhat, Creative director of luxury brand Mark/ Giusti, it is not enough for something to be merely beautiful. It has to be functional too. In fact, says the Lebanese-born designer, it has to be utterly perfect. Every detail is poured over meticulously to ensure it is of the highest quality. And there is no doubt that Farhat’s work – handcrafted Italian leather goods and luggage lined with Lake Como’s finest materials – is more than the sum of its parts. It is art. Every piece has at its heart exquisite fabrics with mosaic patterns Farhat has drawn by hand by from Byzantine era before printing them onto cotton sateen lining. It is these distinctive geometric motifs that run through each collection and make his work instantly recognisable, despite the fact there are no showy logos.

The mosaic designs are taken from the interior walls or floors of Medieval buildings, some of which date back to 6th century AD, and each comes with a design card bearing the pattern of the mosaic and the chapel or temple where the mosaic still lies. Farhat hopes one day the bag’s owner might be inspired to visit the site. ‘I like to pass on the story to the customer,’ he says. ‘There’s all this history. I like the idea of this piece of art being brought to life; being used every day. It’s art, but it’s functional too.’

Back to that point of practicality: Farhat is mindful to make every new item he makes work in synergy with previous collections. So new laptop covers fit inside laptop bags from previous years; iPad cases slot into the front pockets of last season’s suitcases. Nothing will become obsolete. It’s a refreshing attitude in the context of our consumerist culture and it testament to the fact that Farhat, who has stints with Costume Nationale and Armani under his belt as well as countless mainstream fashion brands, respects the fact that some customers prefer to treasure a quality item. ‘People don’t want to replace their luggage every season,’ he says. ‘Leather wears well. It is a natural material; it has an energy flow.

People like to use it and take care of it.’

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Indeed, while Farhat’s business is booming, it is not money that motivates him.

‘My passion is for quality craftsmanship,’ he says. ‘The word “luxury” is everywhere these days. But not much really is. I wanted to revive that luxury.’

How does he plan to do it? ‘I have uncompromised attention to detail. I set standards and refuse to go below them,’ he says. Farhat ensures that craftsmanship runs though the brand like a seam.

Zip pullers and hardware are handcarved in Milan. Boxes and packaging are handmade locally. Silk scarves are handrolled in Lake Como by the same artisans who make the fabric for the lining and the neckwear. Every detail is considered. ‘It could have been tough in a market that is sales driven,’ he confesses.

‘But I was certain I wanted to bring back 100 per cent quality to the consumer.’ And you know what? He has it in the bag.

Visit www.markgiusti.com for stockists and more information.

Wallets from £95. iPad covers from £200.

Laptop bags from £650. Luggage from £1,150.

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Lacoste’s

New flagship in Knightsbridge

Few sports brands achieve global iconic status with the masses, yet retain their exclusivity and remain a luxury name in the way Lacoste does.

The famous Crocodile is universally popular around the world – but unlike other fashion houses the company has retained it’s place at the high end of the industry.

As if to reinforce the point, Lacoste chose Knightsbridge in London to open its Global Flagship store a year ago, placing itself right amongst the leading fashion houses of the world.

And it is fair to move has been a huge success.

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Offering personal appointment shopping, courier services, special orders and even staging in-store events for VIP clients, Lacoste Knightsbridge has established itself among the elite within a year of opening.

Designed to showcase the brand and the direction it is now taking towards an image of unconventional chic, it pushes its own style boundaries and design clichés to create a beautifully clean white space, filled with colour, innovative design and brilliant architecture set over three floors while embracing the history of the Crocodile and showcasing it at its best.

The Menswear department welcomes you on the ground floor and pivots around an illusion of floating stairs which travels through the centre of the store. He you find the essentials of the Lacoste brand which has made it a success for the past 80 years – the shining light being the Polo Lounge, a library of L1212 polo colours set in a floor length polo bar equipped with their own bar man to help you with your choice.

Wondering down to the L!VE floor you will discover a relatively new interpretation on the crocodile. Lacoste L!VE brings a fresh edge to the aesthetic French heritage that the brand is renowned for. It offers a new take on classic staple styles, and moves towards an unexpected cool combination of ‘Lacoste’ and art, this most poignantly

exhibited through collaborations’ with Micha Lidberg and most recently Osamu Tezuka this season.

Stepping up to the Ladies floor you are greeted by a collection fresh off the runway. Lacoste Knightsbridge offers their clients first access to the limited and much desired catwalk collection. This collection is based on constantly experimenting with fresh materials and unique designs to constantly steer the brand and woman who wish to be part of the brand towards the future.

Next to the ladies department is the children’s wear which greets you with ‘Crocodilo’ a children’s puzzle to keep your children engrossed with while you freely shop from the mini – me polo shirts collection.

Moving throughout the store you cannot fail to miss Lacoste’s new introduction to England, their LAB range.

The Lacoste LAB revives the tradition of innovation, an integral part of the brands DNA. These products are the brain child of Lacoste’s founder Rene Lacoste who created revolutionary comfort and efficiency through tennis racquets, golf clubs and bags. Here you can find Surf boards, Ski sets, motor helmets Bikes, footballs and boomerangs.

The collections from LAB are the results of collaborations between Lacoste and key experts designed to build a

bridge between the brands heritage and its future.

The LIVE LAB is both unexpected and cool, it embodies the ideal combination of Lacoste’s technological prowess and modern codes. Here you can find skate boards, snowboards, motor helmets, and boomerangs which all express a colourful state of mind and is a perfect way to experience and explore the city streets.

Overall, Lacoste Knightsbridge offers a new take on the Brands heritage and offers its clients a chance to be part of its movement towards the future; embodying great design and new innovations.

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Sponsorship: Can all footballers cash in?

Fraser Reid Couchmans LLP

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What do you get when you add the fans of Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Roger Federer and Usain Bolt together? The answer is the same number of fans as those of Christiano Ronaldo, well in terms of the number of Facebook fans that is, and this very example illustrates the huge appeal of football.

Footballers are in privileged position in sport in the UK (and many other countries) as Football is the national sport and, despite other sports grabbing the headlines from time to time, the one constant remains that footballers

consistently have a higher profile amongst the public than athletes in other sports and therein lies their appeal to potential sponsors.

Individual Sponsorship, otherwise known as ‘brand endorsement’, goes back a long way and is, in essence, the payment by a company to an individual in return for the individual promoting the company’s brand − which could be a particular product (such as a drink’s brand or a mobile phone) or a service (such as banking or travel).

In 1949, in one of the first reported sports sponsorships in this country where a sportsman was used and paid to endorse a particular product, the then golden boy and David Beckham of his era, Dennis Compton, the English cricketer, entered into an agreement to endorse Brylcream. Sponsorship has now become far more commonplace, sophisticated and indeed creative as it has formed an increasingly important element of the global advertising industry and a way for companies to generate PR and brand awareness, and to reach and connect with their target audience. From George Foreman and his lean mean grilling machine, David Beckham and his range of Calvin Klein underwear, and Rory MciLroy and his reportedly record breaking multimillion dollar Nike deal, to more bizarre relationships such as Scottish team Clydebank’s’ shirt sponsorship by the eighties pop group Wet Wet Wet, sponsorship deals take on a number of weird and wonderful, but in some cases very lucrative, forms. We now regularly see the cricketers Shane Warne and Michael Vaughan on the television providing their services as sponsorship ambassadors for the Advanced Hair Studio, and on the subject of losing hair, more recently, the disgraced German cyclist, Jan Ulrich signed a sponsorship deal with hair loss brand Alpecin, which uses the somewhat ironic and controversial tagline ‘doping for your hair’.

Not all sports sponsorships work. The infamous Gillette advert featuring Tiger Woods, Roger Federer

and Thierry Henry was awarded the worst TV advertisement of 2008 and then was reported in gest, to be the participant athletes’ curse, whereby Tiger’s private life was soon after exposed, Thierry Henry became a pariah after his hand of god moment against France in the World Cup qualifier and Roger Federer losing his number one ranking.

But one only has to see the benefits to both brand and celebrity of the aforementioned Foreman grill, Jamie Oliver’s tie up with Sainsbury’s or predictably, Gary Lineker with Walkers Crisps to see how such relationships can really work.

But what about footballers? In most cases a sponsorship deal with one of the sports apparel powerhouses, Nike, adidas or Puma is commonplace, the leading players receiving large cash sums to wear and promote the brand, whilst lower down the leagues under much simpler arrangements players are provided with some free kit. Companies such as Under Armour and Warrior are now providing some much needed competition and new opportunities. Otherwise, the sponsorship deals with drinks giants Coca Cola and Pepsi, games companies EA, Konami and other key brands now tend to be divided amongst the high profile footballers in the Premier League at the time (currently players such Bale, Wilshere, Walcott and Van Persie).

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Footballers will face several challenges in their quest for sponsorship. In these days of double dip recession and a faltering global economy, brands are feeling the pinch and so budgets have been reduced, whilst brands increasingly want a greater return on any investment that they make in this area.

However, Here are

10

tips

to take into account if you want to attract some sponsors and maintain those relationships:

1

Get social: brands love sportsmen with a large social media followings and who are generally active on social media. By this I mean, Twitter and Facebook and other social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and Google Plus. This can provide the brand with proper engagement with their consumer and a true measurement of what reach their talent association can achieve.

Notwithstanding his history and bad boy image, Joey Barton, has a larger twitter following than many Premier League stars (which would be appealing to certain brands). Probably somewhat surprisingly, Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal is in the top five most followed footballers playing in the UK and Stuart Holden of Championship club Bolton is in the top ten, showing that social media profiles can be developed not just by the leading stars.

2

Look after your image and develop your brand equity (because it is built around your own personality and behaviour): common sense but true. Lurid tabloid headlines don’t help a player appeal to sponsors whilst sporting achievement and conduct (both on and off the field) do. Every person has an image, to protect and exploit (as they see fit) some more valuable than others.

Be creative and have some synergy or connection (real, ironic or comedic) with the brands you partner with: sit down with your agent and think what potential sponsorship relationships work for you and the type of brand that would complement. How about the following:

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• Leighton Baines and Kangol: you can’t get way from those sideburns and that Oasis look.

• Marcus Bent or Wayne Routledge and Rightmove.com; if they had used Right Move then they wouldn’t have played for so many clubs.

•

On the other hand, Peter Crouch wouldn’t be an ideal ambassador for the Mini. In fact,

strangely enough, even though there is a natural affinity between (fast) cars and footballers, car manufacturers are reluctant to enter into individual deals with footballers given their chequered history of speeding and other driving incidents. Sponsorship deals with clubs are far more their preference with Audi sponsoring both Manchester United and Chelsea, for example.

Be realistic: if you are not a high profile player and play below the Premier League, your target has to be local firms/brands, which don’t have big budgets so don’t expect large fees. A sponsorship deal worth £5,000 is fairly lucrative to a footballer on a wage of £2,500 per week so it is all relative, and whilst a lower division footballer might not expect to become Pepsi’s global ambassador alongside Lionel Messi that doesn’t mean to say he can’t find appropriate sponsors.

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5

Cash is not always king: even if you’re paid no money or little money by a sponsor, the PR benefits may help improve your profile and attract future sponsorships.

Be vigilant: don’t give away your sponsorship/endorsement rights to companies or your clubs unnecessarily or without realising as this is fairly commonplace (particularly in the Premier League). Clubs increasingly see the value in controlling a player’s image rights over and above the standard rights granted to their main sponsors and you may find that you have little ability or scope to do anything. The same applies to Clubs seeking to control and restrict their players’ social media activities. This could have an adverse affect upon your off-the-field earning capacity and potential.

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Beware of free gifts: footballers are walking billboards to brands and so if you agree to wear or use free products for a brand, what is the brand looking for in return? Consider whether the receipt of the free gift is worth it or are you getting short-changed? (unless you actually like the brand). If you think of the lengths that clubs go to protect their own sponsors and to prevent unauthorised companies from associating themselves with their brand, then similar (but watered down) rules could and should be followed by at least the more high profile footballers.

Know about your sponsor and its business, a little knowledge can go a long way.

If you are being paid to endorse a brand, add value and generate awareness by making it known to the public what your sponsor has done for you, and not just in accordance with your contractual obligations. The relationship should work both ways.

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Above all, be passionate: the consumer can see through false relationships and so you must try and demonstrate real and genuine support, and ideally, affection for the brand and/or the relationship itself.

And finally, think long term, not short term: when a footballer’s playing career comes to an end, his sponsor relationships could well provide useful ongoing income or maybe even new career opportunities.

In summary, there are no hard and fast rules to sponsorship and sometimes relationships can arise from the most unlikely of circumstances.

However, if you follow these tips then it will at least put you in a better position to attract, maintain or take advantage of any opportunities.

No matter what your profile is, be it on a global, national or a local level, there are opportunities for all, but the lower your profile, the more

proactive you have to be. In this world of social media and increasing appetite for audio visual content, you need to stick out from the crowd in a positive and credible light preferably on the field but also now off the field. It may seem like a further sacrifice and an unnecessary burden to a footballer, on top of his playing duties, but the financial rewards are definitely worth it and, dare I say it, it could be fun too.

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M edi a

Phill Hall - Chairman - PHA Media

Footballers at any level of the professional game are going to find journalists writing about them in good times and in bad. That is a fact, and you have a choice: to make them your friends or make them enemies.

A successful Premier League manager I worked with believed the media could have a huge impact on a player’s performance on the pitch. He argued that a clear, calm mind meant maximum performance on the pitch. An angry, confused head would almost certainly damage the opportunity for a player to perform to his maximum.

Teddy Sheringham once said to me: “In the Premier League, if a player is five per cent off his game he will lose the personal duel with his opponent.” If that is true the impact of the media is important.

Whether you believe it or not, journalists are human. It used to defy logic to me that players who will use any trick on the pitch to gain advantage, should then be outraged that a journalist would try to do the same in his profession.

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A footballer will cite a professional foul as something to be admired, yet turn on the media if they use their professional contacts to unearth something a player might not like.

So, my first advice to a player is to live in the real world. A journalist has a job to do and he will do it with or without your cooperation. If you help him/her, the chances are they will be far kinder in their assessment of your performance or should they discover something less than flattering.

At West Ham players would “dodge” the Press. They would claim they had to rush home after training, didn’t speak English or come up with other lame excuses. It is no coincidence they were the ones who suffered the greatest difficult with the media.

People like Paul Konchesky, Shaka Hislop, Mark Noble, Sheringham and Dean Ashton enjoyed an easy ride because they were always prepared to give time and think about an angle that would give a newspaper a story (often with my input).

We allowed individuals from newspapers or broadcast media to join us for breakfast with the players from time to time, so they felt they were part of the inner circle. It made it hard to slaughter a team, a manager or a player if you had shared a plate of egg and bacon with them only days earlier.

We started a policy of transparency. When papers came on with a story, good or bad, we would comment, guide and sometimes refute what they had put to us. It meant no story appeared without us knowing first and this right of reply is vital. It offers balance and often draws the sting of what can be a sensationalised story if published with a “no comment”.

Then there is the crisis. I have represented John Terry, Carlos Tevez, Portsmouth, Manchester City, QPR and West Ham. Sometimes an issue just can’t be helped, spun or prevented from publication because it is true, and the journalist has the evidence to prove it.

Those are the occasions when I advise clients to ignore the furore – it seems career ending at the time, but they do pass, even if it takes a week or two. Then the best PR can simply be performing well on the pitch. Look how Tiger Woods has turned his story around – not by dialogue with the Press but by performing to the maximum of his abilities on the golf course.

“...the media could have a huge impact on a player’s performance...”

Players need to realise that their Press Officers are potentially their best friends. If they can manage the media with their help it will improve performance on the pitch, lead to peace of mind and prevent the individuals and their families from being victims of the media game.

They can also help you be as professional in your handling of the media as you are on the pitch. There is no point turning up for a media interview unprepared. You do your research on the opposition, why wouldn’t you do it on the media?

Two very well-known Premier League managers used to do a brain dump on me between leaving the dressing room and

attending a press conference. One said to me: “We were crap today, what the hell am I going to say?” He had been having trouble with two senior players in training but both had played well in the game.

I said: “Focus on the two, talk about their spirit and never-say-die attitude; talk about them as leaders for the younger players.”

He did, and from that negative he turned the two players around and they dug in for the rest of the season.

Failing that of course, players hire senior media advisors like myself… people with access to senior journalists and a wealth of experience in managing a media crisis.

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T AX planning for

I nvestments Planning for your future is important. By investing your money sensibly, you can actually reduce your tax bill. The Government offers a range of tax reliefs to encourage people to invest for their future.

There are a number of ways these can be applied.

This article considers some options and provides answers to some common questions.

Alex Green is a Partner at GBP Associates LLP, Chartered Accountants. He has over 35 years of experience working with both UK and US tax legislation. Alex has extensive experience in the sports, media entertainment, arts and creative industries. He specialises in advising high net worth and high profile individuals on all aspects of personal and business taxation.

www.gbpassociates.com

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This articl e l ooks at some tax effect i v e i n v e s t m e n t opportuni t i es, t he t ax imp lications and t he i mpor t ance of effectiv e t a x p l a n n i n g .

So what should I invest in?

Invest in Property Property is the first obvious choice. Built with solid bricks and mortar; you can see it. A property investment is a popular choice and often more comforting than buying shares in a company or investment fund.

Your main home will usually be treated as your Principal Private Residence ‘PPR’. As such there will be no tax payable on any gain when it is sold. Clearly this is a very attractive investment.

The main question would be whether to take out a mortgage to buy a more expensive house and if so, for how much.

A married couple may only have one PPR between them. However it is possible for an unmarried couple to have one PPR each, if certain conditions are met. If your children, or indeed your parents, do not own a home it may be worth considering them in your tax planning.

So now you have exhausted your PPR relief, what next?

and choose a safe or promising area. London remains a hotspot and together with the South East yields the highest returns. Mortgage rates are still low and the rental market shows no sign of slowing down.

With the right property, the buy-to-let market is a healthy one. According to Savills, rents will rise 18% over the next five years across the country.

In London they are expected to rise up to 26%, fuelled by demand from young workers unable to get on the property ladder.

Buy-To-Let Countrywide, the UK’s largest lettings agent, say the average rental yield is 6.2 per cent gross a year. This makes the buy-to-let market particularly attractive when compared with current low savings rates and stock market volatility.

Location is key, as any estate agent will tell you. So it’s important to research the market

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GB What tax will I have to pay on my rental property?

Investing in a buy-to-let property involves a minefield of different taxes. Ensuring that you have the right advice will help significantly reduce your liabilities.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Stamp Duty Land Tax is the tax payable when you purchase a residential property. The rate is on a sliding scale depending on the purchase price. For properties under £125,000 the rate is 0%. The highest rate is 7% for properties over £2 million.

Capital gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a tax on any gains or profits you make when you sell or “dispose of” an asset. That could be business premises, a second home, a piece of land, or a buy-to-let investment property.

Individuals can make £10,900 of capital gains, or profit on sales of assets, per tax year. Capital gains above this level are charged at 18% (lower level) and/ or 28% (higher level), depending on other income. A further advantage of owning the property jointly is that the gain will be divided amongst the owners, each owner will be able to claim the £10,900 exemption against their share of the gain.

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Income Tax

You must pay income tax on any income you receive.

This can be at rates up to 45%. If you own a UK property that is rented out, you must pay income tax on the net rent received.

Net rent is the gross or total amount of rent received, less any tax deductible expenses.

It is possible to significantly reduce or even off-set your tax bill by taking advantage of specific reliefs and deductions. There are a number of ‘allowable expenses’ which can also help to minimise your tax liabilities.

‘Allowable expenses’ are things that you need to spend money on just to run the property day-to-day.

These include things like letting agent’s fees, legal fees, accountants’ fees, buildings and contents insurance, maintenance and repairs, cleaning and gardening. It also covers Council Tax, ground rent, service charges and utility bills (gas, water and electricity). Expenses can also be claimed for the direct costs of letting the property such as phone calls, stationery and advertising.

If the property is fully furnished than you can also claim a further deduction equivalent to 10% of the rent as ‘Wear and Tear’. Mortgage rates for landlords have fallen recently, but remain higher than those offered to owner-occupiers. A higher deposit is also usually required. As a landlord however, you can off-set the interest payable each month from a buy-to-let mortgage against your tax bill for income.

Whether you are an individual or working through your own company, if you rent out property, you can also claim expenses.

If you are a married couple, there are individual personal allowances on income tax and capital gains that can be utilised. Consideration should therefore be given to owning property jointly with your spouse as then some of the rents will be taxed on her, which may be beneficial.

BP Invest in Business: Entrepreneurs Relief (ER) Another attractive tax benefit is Entrepreneurs Relief (ER). ER offers investors in qualifying businesses a 10% tax rate on gains made when the business is sold, as opposed to the usual top rate of 28%.

There are a number of ways that you can secure a 10% rate of tax. Even if the investment is not in your business, the 10% rate may still be available.

One way to benefit from ER, for example, would be to subscribe for shares in qualifying companies that take your fancy. Another would be to invest in a friend’s company or even get a group of you together to form a qualifying company.

It is important that the company is treated as a trading company and not as an investment company, otherwise any gains will be taxed at tax rates as high as 28% and not at the 10% rate.

With income tax top rate now 45% for 2013/2014, it is still better to make capital gains rather than increase your income.

There is no limit to the number of times you can claim ER, but there are strict criteria that must be fulfilled. You must meet the conditions for claiming ER for a period of at least 12 months before any disposals. Planning ahead and restructuring your affairs correctly is crucial.

The rules also apply in different ways depending on whether you are a sole trader, business partner, trustee, or a company directors and/or employee holding at least 5% of ordinary shares and voting rights in a qualifying company. You can claim ER on qualifying gains of up to £10 million during your lifetime.

Husbands and wives are treated separately for ER. Each person is entitled to relief up to the maximum lifetime limit on qualifying gains.

A professional tax adviser would be able to advise on a suitable structure in order to fulfil the sometimes quirky conditions of claiming ER.

Invest in Venture Capital Schemes

Inheritance Tax (IHT)

There are three Venture Capital Schemes that are offered by the Government. These are the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS).

Venture Capital Schemes are financial schemes that encourage investment in small businesses and start-ups. They are designed to reduce the risk for equity investors by providing investors with tax reliefs.

Investing in an Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), Venture Capital Trust (VCT) or Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) can provide you with an initial income tax relief of up to 30% for EIS and VCT and up to 50% for SEIS on the invested amount.

In addition, if you hold the shares for more than a specified number of years any gain on the sale of the shares will be exempt from tax.

There are limits to how much you can invest in each scheme per year and still receive tax relief.

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is charged on the value of your assets. Upon death, the first £325,000 of your ‘estate’ will be exempt through the “Nil Rate Band” Relief. The net value of any assets, less liabilities, over this amount however will be subject to IHT at 40%. With careful structuring of your assets and advice from a professional accountant, this tax bill can be substantially reduced to ensure that your investments are passed on with little or no IHT being suffered.

A professional accountant will be able to advise you about how best to structure your affairs and reduce your tax liabilities. It is important to constantly review your affairs in light of new Government proposals, changes to tax legislation or if your circumstances change.

If you have a specific question or would like to get advice from Alex, you can email him at alexg@gbpassociates.com Or write to him at GBP Associates LLP, 48 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 2NS

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K atie S mall’s Top Insurance Tips for Footballers The whole of Footballers’ Life is dedicated to the ways you can make the most out of your career, your leisure time and your investments. Backing all this up should be insurance as a way of safeguarding you and your families’ home, lifestyle and possessions.

Find a broker with the right expertise.

‘You would say that’, I hear you think but, legally speaking, brokers are agents of the insured and therefore have a duty to act in your best interest, from securing appropriate cover at the right price right through to getting your claim paid. Not all insurance policies are created equal, and when you have complex requirements a broker’s expertise can help you choose the right solution for you.

Footballers are almost unique in their insurance requirements. While there are many people who have similar salaries, few are as young or as high profile. For example, anyone who knows a young person will know how tricky it is for them to find insurance on an old car with a small engine.

A footballer will be the same age, but maybe in the headlines, and often looking for coverage for a supercar that can go at 200mph. A broker’s expertise and strong market relationships can find solutions for the most unique circumstances.

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Re-evaluate your contents every two years.

This goes for everyone, but it is especially important for footballers who have beautiful houses full of beautiful things. In my experience a lot of people aren’t aware of the true value of what they have, particularly as the economic turmoil of the last few years has led to fluctuations in pricing.

For example, a 50 year old gold Rolex watch purchased only four years ago could now be worth three times the price it was bought for. Art has seen similar price increases, and the death of the artist can also cause its value to rocket. A recent example of this is the artwork by Lucian Freud, which shot up in value following his death in 2011.

If these items aren’t regularly valued then if they are lost or stolen you won’t be able to claim for the full amount on them.

Get specialist insurance that matches your special requirements.

There are lots of examples of when this is important, but for footballers one of the most obvious is car insurance. When you drive a supercar, it is important that the insurance reflects its specialist nature and the high value of it and its component parts. This will mean high limits (a recent payout on Rowan Atkinson’s McLaren F1 was nearly £1million), but also special features like choice of repairer. Most supercars are handbuilt from carbon fibre, so to be properly repaired they need to go back to the manufacturer, wherever that maybe. There’s no point in paying for a supercar, then getting insurance that will only send it to the local garage for repairs.

Keep out of the front pages if you can...

Whether or not what is reported is true, being in the front pages (as opposed to the sports pages at the back) means that underwriters may see you as a riskier prospect, and therefore it may be harder for your broker to find you the coverage you need at a good price.

Really, that’s shorthand for looking at ways of minimising risk across all areas of your life. That’s good practice anyway, but it also means that your broker should be able to get a lower price for your insurance. That might mean checking your security systems are up-to-date, always parking in a garage and making sure that any new domestic staff are fully vetted. If you buy a new watch or jewel, make sure that your safe has the capacity for it.

T he s e a r e j u s t f o u r t o p t i p s , b u t e v e r y one i s u n i q u e s o t o f i n d w h a t i s r i ght f or y o u r c i r c u m s t a n c e s .

R K Harrison is a specialist high net worth broker, with experts across household, jewellery, fine art, motor, private aviation and marine. Within this we have a dedicated Sports & Entertainment practice, which combines this expertise with the experience and knowledge of how this can be applied to footballers. We arrange the insurance cover for over 1000 professional footballers, providing a flexible and friendly service to meet the sometimes tricky risks that they present.

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Financial Fair Play Regulations

Jody Macdonald Couchmans LLP

If you are involved in football then no doubt you’ll have heard the phrase “Financial Fair Play” or “FFP”, but what does it mean and how will it actually impact clubs and players?

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The Problem

The Solution

Football authorities are concerned about the extent to which clubs are spending more money than they earn in order to compete with their rivals. A Europe-wide survey of 650 clubs in 2010 showed that 50% were making a loss each year and 20% were making “massive losses”.

This recklessness, when it comes to managing finances, can have dire consequences for the club involved but also for the wider football community.

Clubs that rack up significant debts can, in a worst case scenario, go bust and when they do players, staff, suppliers and other clubs (who may be owed money from past transfer deals) will all suffer.

The case of Portsmouth and, perhaps even more shockingly, Rangers, has shown that even high-profile clubs can fall victim to financial mismanagement.

By introducing what have become known as “Financial Fair Play” regulations, football authorities are trying to ensure that clubs and their owners act more responsibly in the way they operate their finances. The key message is that clubs must “break even” i.e. they must not spend significantly more than they earn in commercial revenues each year. It is vital for the overall health of Football that clubs have a stable existence and are run as self-sustaining businesses rather than being at the mercy of billionaire owners who bankroll excessive spending for a limited time and then leave others to pick up the pieces when they withdraw their support.

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“If a club wants to play in a UEFA competition... it must comply with UEFA’s FFP Regulations.”

UEFA - Financial Fair Play (“FFP”) Regulations If a club wants to play in a UEFA competition (e.g. The Champions League or Europa League) it must comply with UEFA’s FFP Regulations.

UEFA’s rules don’t actually come into effect until the 2013/14 Season but once they do a club’s finances from the previous two seasons (i.e.

2011/12 and 2012/13) will immediately come under scrutiny. For this reason many clubs have been making preparations, for a couple of years already, to ensure they comply.

As with other FFP regulations, UEFA’s main rule is that clubs must “break even” each year.

UEFA will look closely at a club’s accounts to check that the total amount they have spent

Criticisms of UEFA’s FFP Some people are sceptical about how strictly UEFA will enforce their new FFP rules when they come into effect. According to UEFA, Man City and Chelsea would both have failed the “break even” test if it was in force this season. Both clubs have been making significant efforts to reduce their costs and increase their revenues but if they commit a breach in the future will UEFA really go as far as disqualifying them from the Champions League? UEFA insists it will take a hard line and points to the fact it has, for example, banned clubs such as Malaga and Besiktas from UEFA competitions in recent years for breaches of related financial rules.

Another controversial area is whether clubs are using artificially inflated commercial deals with companies that are associated with their owners in order to get around FFP. Examples

(e.g. on player wages, transfer fees and other costs) is not significantly more than the amount they earned in the same period (e.g. from sponsorships, ticket sales and media rights).

Technically, clubs are allowed to make a small loss (€45m over 3 years) and still be deemed to have broken even, this is known as an “acceptable deviation”.

To encourage clubs to spend money on their stadium, training facility infrastructure and youth schemes these particular costs are not taken into account in the break even calculation.

If a club breaches the FFP rules then depending on the seriousness of the breach it can expect to receive a punishment ranging from a warning to fines, withholding of prize money, points deductions or outright disqualification from UEFA competitions.

include; PSG’s €200m per year deal with Qatar Tourism Authority and Man City’s £400m ten year sponsorship deal with Abu Dhabi’s state-owned airline Etihad. Again, UEFA has promised to scrutinise these deals carefully and if it feels the related company has paid above market value for the rights they receive then these amounts cannot be counted towards their break even figure.

[UEFA’s FFP rules could put English clubs at a disadvantage in Europe. This is because clubs in some European leagues can take advantage of third party funding arrangements to buy players – which reduces their transfer costs – and could help them to “break even”.

Clubs in England (and Ligue 1 in France) are not allowed to register a player whose registration is not 100% owned by the selling club – they need to buy out any 3rd party economic interest first. UEFA are said to be looking into this]

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FFP Rules in the Premier League and Football League At the time of writing , Premier League clubs have voted in principle (by a narrow majority) to introduce their own financial Fair Play rules. These rules seek to limit the amount clubs are spending on wages and to put a limit on the acceptable level of overall losses a club can make – similar to UEFA’s “break even” test. Clubs that breach the rules could face points deductions or even exclusion from the Premier League. In general the Premier League rules are less stringent than UEFA’s but clubs will still need to keep a close eye on their finances going forward in order to avoid falling foul of them when they eventually come into effect in the next few years.

The Football League has its own FFP rules and these apply to clubs in The Championship, League 1 and League 2. The rules vary between the divisions, in recognition of the different financial challenges faced by the clubs in each division.

In the Championship, clubs have agreed to adhere to a “break even” test similar to UEFA’s. To comply with the rules Championship clubs must not make a loss of more than £4m in 2012/13 and club owners are only allowed to invest up to £8m. These figures will drop each season until the 2015/16 season where each club should be making a loss of no more than £2m and club owners can only invest up to £3m. This phasing-in of the rules allows clubs to adjust to the new rules without running into financial difficulties.

In League 1 and League 2, all clubs will adhere to a “Salary Cost Management Protocol” that has actually been used in League 2 since 2004/5. The Protocol broadly limits spending on total player wages to a proportion of each club’s turnover.

The Football League rules came into force at the start of the 2012/13 season but no penalties will be applied until the 2014/15 season.

How will FFP affect players and clubs?

To put it simply, clubs will be looking to maximise the amount of money they earn and reduce their costs and will be less able to rely on wealthy owners to bankroll them.

In reality this may mean some or all of the following:

In order to increase the amounts they receive from their sponsors, clubs may want players, as part of their playing contracts, to give up more of their personal image rights for club use and to carry out additional promotional work for club sponsors.

This may be acceptable to players but only if they are properly compensated.

Some clubs will continue to pay astronomical transfer fees and wages for the very top players, but outside of this all clubs will be under pressure to keep wages and transfer fees at a sensible level.

FFP will not necessarily change the pecking order of clubs in England or Europe.

Big clubs such as Man Utd., who traditionally make significant profits, will still have more money to spend than others and therefore will be more able to buy and retain the best players without incurring losses that would put them in breach of FFP.

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wat ches

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B asel w orld watch s how

Ken Kessler Watch Specialist

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If you’re a hard-core watch addict, attending Baselworld can be risky: it’s easy to overdose when faced with over 500 brands showing off their latest pieces. Think of it as you would a car show, a synaptic overload of the greatest toys your wrist can possibly wear. They range from Swatch’s most affordable treasures (including a clever new automatic made from only 51 parts) to diamond-encrusted bling that will lighten your account of £1m.

Inbetween? Truly something for everybody.

PATEK PHILIPPE CALATRAVA

(yellow gold £ 23,790; rose white gold £25,1100)

Every enthusiast should own a Calatrava, a classic that’s been in continuous production for over 80 years. The ultimate in discreet dress watches, it’s been updated to include a subtly reworked 39mm case with a cleverly hinged back to show the self-winding movement. This is a black-tie must that you’ll wear again and again. www.patek.com

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HARRY WINSTON OPUS XIII

(£225,900)

Every year, this diamond specialist collaborates with a radical watchmaker to produce a tour de force. For 2013, the white gold Opus XIII features a watch with no hands, but the time is easy to read as a pointer pops out for the correct hour, while the minutes indicators pivot in or out to show the time. With a watch like this, rarity is a given: only 130 will be made. www.harrywinston.com

BLANCPAIN FIFTY FATHOMS BATHYSCAPHE

(from £7,330)

Celebrating the Fifty Fathoms 60th Anniversary, Blancpain has launched a modernised version of a diving classic of the series’ Bathyscaphe model. While the look is pure 1950s military, the rest is all modern, including a self-winding movement with non-magnetic silicon balance spring, a bezel made from scratch resistant Liquidmetal® alloy and ceramic, and water-resistance to 300m. www.blancpain.com

BREMONT U-2 BLUE (£3,595)

You don’t need to be a pilot to appreciate Bremont’s latest, designed to pay homage to the U-2 spy plane. This British brand has done a sterling job producing models for various squadrons and honouring aviation classics such that they’re a default choice if you want something rugged and functional for daily use. The ‘U-2 Blue’ is a certified chronometer with distinctive blue dial, in a rugged case. www.bremont.com

ROLEX GMT-MASTER II (£5,950)

Of late, Rolex has been revising its classics, but they’ve done more than improve the technical details of certain models: they’ve played with colours. Following the green and blue bezel Submariners, now highly collectible, comes the ‘Black and Blue’ GMT-Master II, a.k.a. ‘The Bruiser’. There is no classier way to keep a handle on two different time zones. www.rolex.com

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CHOPARD L.U.C. ENGINE ONE H

(£56,270)

Thanks to Chopard’s involvement with historic motorracing, the company has a long tradition of watches oozing automotive details. The L.U.C Engine One H is the latest to actually look a bit like an engine, but that mustn’t obscure its worthiness as a fine timepiece. Naturally, the power reserve for this titanium-cased tourbillon reads ‘Full’ or ‘Empty’. Only 100 will be made. www.chopard.com

BREGUET CLASSIQUE RÉSERVE DE MARCHE (£13,600)

Abraham-Louis Breguet is regarded by many as the greatest watchmaker of all time, and the brand that bears his name supports the notion by issuing watches with a look born over 200 years. Despite the antiquity, they seem timeless rather than vintage, and the handsome Classique Réserve de Marche dress watch, in its 38mm rose gold case, could be mistaken for no other make. www.breguet.com

HUBLOT FERRARI KING GOLD CARBON FLYBACK CHRONOGRAPH (£30,100) Hublot’s Big Bang is one of the sport watch success stories of the past decade. Adding collaboration with Ferrari, to produce the car maker’s official timepieces, only increases the desirability. To reflect the spirit of Ferrari’s high-tech supremacy, along with its own, Hublot has created a 45.5mm watch using materials not out of place in F1: carbon fibre, ceramics and gold. Only 500 will be issued. www.hublot.com

REITLING EMERGENCY II (£12,040)

Uniquely, Breitling Emergency II’s micro-transmitter sends out a distress signal if the owner is in serious trouble. A mustown piece of kit for serious adventurers since the Mk I of 1995, the new dual-frequency Mk II uses the digital 406MHz international air distress frequency, as well as the analogue 121.5MHz. Over 100 lives have been saved by the original.

This update will no doubt do the same. www.breitling.com

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BELL & ROSS HEADING INDICATOR BR01 (£3,600)

Round dial in a square, 46mm case: all of Bell & Ross’ uber-macho BR01s were styled to look as if they were plucked from a jet’s control panel. A new trio makes the connection even stronger, as the watches look more like gauges with specific aviation functions.

Seen here is the Heading Indicator, with plane profile on the glass; also available are the Airspeed and the Climb. www.bellross.com

OMEGA SPEEDMASTER CO-AXIAL DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

(£7,590)

An acknowledged classic, regarded as one of the greatest chronographs ever made, the Omega Speedmaster Professional went to the Moon and is a NASA fixture. Omega continually delivers cool variants, but this is the sleekest yet: all-black, so it pre-empts those guys who do aftermarket blackening on Rolexes and the like.

Even the name of this watch is cool. www.omegawatches.com

TAG HEUER CARRERA CALIBRE 36 RACING CHRONOGRAPH

(£5,995-£6,500)

Celebrating 50 years as the definitive racing driver’s chronograph, TAG Heuer’s Carrera now boasts an in-house movement, with flyback function so you won’t miss any timing action. A simple click instantly resets the chronograph to zero. Case is made of super-light titanium Grade 2, and you can get it with a sandblasted, black titanium carbide coating for a touch of stealth. www.tagheuer.com

ZENITH MONTRE D’AÉRONEF TYPE 20 TOURBILLON (£44,100)

Zenith is the only brand allowed to use the term ‘Pilot’ on its dials, adding gravitas to the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 Tourbillon. It also provides deep credibility thanks to the presence of a tourbillon version of the El Primero movement, seen through the dial, not normally found on aviator watches.

At 48mm across, it invites a massive wrist to cope with the titanium and rose gold case. www.zenith-watches.com

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SEIKO SPORTURA FC BARCELONA

(£450)

Many individual footballers and clubs have associated watches, but one of the most accessible is the Sportura model Seiko has created with FC Barcelona. Launched in 2012, it has been revised for 2013. If you don’t play for them, you’ll look incredibly generous of spirit wearing this 1/100th sec chronograph with Caliber 7T82 in a chunky 42mm case. But your teammates will be confused. www.seikowatches.com

GIRARD-PERREGAUX CONSTANT ESCAPEMENT (£98,500)

Being re-launched with a vengeance, Girard-Perregaux revised its thinking at the heart of the movement, with an innovation promising greater timekeeping accuracy – the Constant Escapement. Naturally, it had to debut in a case worthy of the achievement: 48mm in white gold with a curved case band, and the tour de force that provides the name is visible through the dial. www.girard-perregaux.com

U-BOAT U-42 UNICUM

(£6,150)

U-Boat’s oversized watches are so hip they’ve been name-checked in Elementary, but the Unicum (or VNICVM with two ‘V’s if you want to feel like an ancient Roman) adds super-rarity. Each of the watches is made with a hand-aged Grade-5 Titanium case that ‘looks like it has already braved the 165 fathoms (300m) it is able to endure.’ No two are alike, and only 99 will be made. www.uboatwatch.com

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Greubel Forsey

Anyone who thought that long-standing differences could only serve to come between the French and the English: think again. If ever there was an example of creative and cultural differences working to complement each other, then Greubel Forsey has to be it. For it was when Robert Greubel, a Frenchman from the Alsace, joined forces in Switzerland with Englishman Stephen Forsey to share a watchmaking vision, that the Anglo-French alliance took on an exciting new dimension. They launched in 2004 at Baselworld and started with a splash when they presented their Double Tourbillon 30째 Vision which was received with such enthusiasm that it sparked the beginning of their work with some of the most highly esteemed retailers around the world.

Their collaboration prompts them to develop new movements and to research ways of breaking ground on timekeeping precision. They set about studying and developing the tourbillon mechanism and have found novel ways of displaying time using original dials and cases. This particular aspect of their inventiveness has played a very important

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role in their combined works as Greubel Forsey.

The company has always prided itself on the depth of its dial designs and the three-dimensional elements included (such as the globe in the GMT or the numeral 12 that features in the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Contemporain). Their flair for invention is not to be overlooked either, with some real headturner creations like the prize winning Double Tourbillon 30째 Technique (which deservedly took 1st place in the International Chronometry Competition in October 2011); the Quadruple Tourbillon and the Tourbillon 24 Secondes; all the result of painstaking work and testing carried out in their laboratory. Indeed, these three timepieces will cleverly minimize any gravity-related errors as well as for when the watch is not worn. The Quadruple Tourbillon launched in 2008, was their second patented invention and consists of four tourbillons coupled by a spherical differential, while the Tourbillon 24 Secondes exploits the advantage of a rapid rotating single axis inclined tourbillon cage.

Calibre GF02s 5N red gold case.

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Calibre GF01 - White gold case - silvered gold dial

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Greubel Forsey’s work showcases a meticulous attention to detail with the decoration of the movement components.

The watches are perfectly hand-finished and hand-decorated on the inside and out and some interesting features for watch lovers include the frosted main plates, the black polished mirror of the tourbillion bridges, the hand bevelling and perlage.

Elsewhere, Invention Pieces are another exciting collection that pays homage to

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Greubel Forsey’s fundamental invention: the Double Tourbillon 30°, with Invention Piece 1; the Quadruple Tourbillon with Invention Piece 2 and the Tourbillon 24 Secondes with Invention Piece 3. This collection is only ever produced and presented in unique series of 11 pieces white gold, 11 pieces 5N red gold and 11 pieces platinum. (Invention Piece 2 is the exception as it only exists in 11 pieces platinum and 11 pieces red gold).

Apart from the technical prowess on display in their work, Greubel Forsey is an intricate part of the world of art and has strengthened the association with their Time Art Gallery in Shanghai. It’s an exceptional exhibition that expertly brings together three universes related to the creation and art of watchmaking.

These are: the Greubel Forsey timepiece collection; the co-creation process with contemporary artists; and watchmakers whose works have set notable benchmarks in the horological world. Shanghai is of particular significance as it continually takes on more of a prominent role in the world of contemporary art and is regarded as truly multi-cultural.

Robert and Stephen could never be accused of resting on their laurels, however, and have also undertaken a project called Le Garde Temps – Naissance d’une Montre (Birth of a Watch) which sees them working with Philippe Dufour, an independent watchmaker who shares the same passion and vision. A series of 3-D films provide an in-depth insight into time-honoured watchmaking techniques and the methods are interactive and engaging, with a view to opening them up to a wider audience. There’s a regular blog with updates and the focus is deliberately placed on visual

and interactive information that allows for a dynamic platform for education.

All of these exciting developments serve to underline the unique quality of each Greubel Forsey timepiece. There is something reassuring about the fact that only around 100 pieces are made a year meaning your GF watch will be truly special, made with the utmost care and attention and designed to stay with you for life.

Calibre GF01c platinum case

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Marine Chronometer Manufacture; Art and Precision with Enamel and UN-118 Caliber

Ulysse

Nardin

Stroke of genius: The science and spirit behind the award-winning watchmaker When Ulysse Nardin arrived in the Canton region of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, little did he know that he was embarking on a business that would prove to be the making of him and the beginning of a revolution in the watch world. Ulysse’s great strength started with his years of maritime experience and the novelty this brought straight to the heart of the Swiss Alps. In 1846, he started to develop his own chronometers and complex pocket watches based on his extensive work with the master of marine chronometers and astronomical

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watches of the period, Frédéric-William Dubois.

At the time, marine chronometers were the only point of precise reference for sailors navigating by means of sextant. This time-keeping instrument with its 2 or 8 days power reserve marked the halfseconds and made it possible to determine the exact longitude while a ship was at sea. Faultless precision was tantamount to survival and success, as navigators found that a single second difference could lead to a position error of 463 meters.

Alexander the Great Minute Repeater Westminster Carillon Tourbillon Jaquemarts From 1876 onward, Ulysse Nardin regularly submitted marine chronometers to the Neuchâtel and Geneva Observatories for stringent quality control tests. The exceptional features in these devices went on to shape the way the rest of the watch industry considered Ulysse Nardin and earned the Le Locle firm its position as world leader in innovation and in the technology of watch-making.

Today, the world has obviously moved on at an ever increasing rate, with satellites replacing the marine chronometer and the sextant as navigation instruments. One thing has remained constant throughout, however, and that is that Ulysse Nardin’s chronometers are as cherished and coveted today, by enthusiasts and collectors, as they ever have been, if not more. Fast-forward to the 21st Century and we have a charismatic team of highly proficient watch-

makers headed up by Rolf Schnyder and including Ludwig Oechslin, Pierre Gygax and Lucas Humair.

These illustrious creators have acquired a faithful following of watch-lovers across the globe; amassing an impressive 4,300-plus watch-making awards – 18 of them gold medals – to add to the greatest number of patents in mechanical watch-making. Aside from this, they regularly receive accolades from industry magazines and publications: for example, Revolution magazine famously honoured the company with its prestigious ‘New Technology’ award for InnoVision, a remarkable watch that showcases the groundbreaking use of silicium. InnoVision does, in essence, pay homage also to Ulysse Nardin’s remarkable FREAK watch which was in turn the first to feature the use of silicon and which has truly taken the watch community by storm.

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There are some landmark achievements throughout the company collection, like Oechslin’s Trilogy of Time that is made up of the Astrolabium, the Planetarium and the Tellurium as well as his Moonstruck that was launched in 2009. What followed in 2010 was a pivotal moment for the company – the arrival of the FREAK Diavolo. It illustrates the wonders of new technology namely photolithography as well as the use of modern materials like silicium and LIGA nickel. It doesn’t stop there: advancements in power on display, pin sharp accuracy of the tourbillon carrousel (developed entirely in-house); and the addition of a flying tourbillon indicating the seconds make it a stand-out watch in the world today.

When Rolf Schnyder sadly passed away in April 2011, the entire company remained committed to pursuing his vision, keeping the company independent. Patrik P. Hoffmann, who has spent most of his professional career in the watch industry, was appointed to the position of CEO and has been responsible for spreading the word on Ulysse Nardin to North and Central America.

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Ulysse Nardin has managed to surpass itself on the delivery of form and function. The company has pioneered the use of novel materials; forged unconventional relationships, like its joint venture with microparts technology company Sigatec and diamondproduction company Diamaze MicroTechnologies; and has breathed fresh air into the world of design.

There is the overriding sense that everything Ulysse Nardin touches oozes invention and beauty in equal measure. Expanding its roster of breakthroughs for 2011 is the Ulysse Nardin Caliber 118, which marks a milestone in the use of new technologies in watchmaking and in the production of diamondcovered elements in movements. Ulysse Nardin’s self-winding base caliber conceived and executed entirely in-house, the Caliber 118 features an escapement produced using DIAMonSil, a landmark alliance of diamond and silicium. The Caliber 118 is the first member of a new family of movements that will house this escapement in DIAMonSil, along with the patented Ulysse Nardin oscillator with spiral 1.1.1 and ensuring that the future of Ulysse Nardin will never be short of thrills.

phones & audio

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VE RT U E N T E RS N E W E R A W ITH LAUN CH O F

The Rolls Royce of Smart phones

VERTU

Among the first to realise that there would be a demand for a ‘luxury’ mobile phone, Vertu has established itself as the world’s leading provider of such devices. As such ‘tech’ evolves quickly, the company has launched VERTU TI, a contemporary smartphone powered by Android.

To provide it with the tactile experience that a premium phone must possess, Vertu’s design team employed titanium for the case material. This metal is known for its strength, light weight and handsome appearance, a distinctive silvery-grey that no other metal shares. To attract the eye as well to enhance the appeal in the hand, the VERTU TI uses leather accents – a warm, humanising detail that cotrasts with the arch coolness of the metal.

TI Such a precious, exclusive device needs to be durable, in contrast to the plasticky alternatives that it transcends. The TI has been fitted with the largest sapphire crystal screen ever engineered, at 3.7 inches. The sapphire crystal renders the screen virtually scratch-proof – it’s said to be tested to be four times stronger than other smart phones in terms of impact resistance. This is an important point, if you’ve ever had an accident with a conventional phone.

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VERTU TI’s titanium case, too, is said to be around five times stronger than other smart phones, deforming less than 1mm when a 500NM force is applied.

VERTU TI combines distinctive, signature Vertu design cues, such as the ceramic pillow and exposed watch screws. With a clean overall aesthetic, the result is a product that conveys a timeless elegance,while feeling solid and beautifully-crafted, and offering unrivalled durability.

VERTU TI is now available priced at

€7,900

VERTU TI is powered by Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, which, in combination with the device’s 1.7 GHz processor, creates an intuitive, highly reactive and enjoyable experience.

Other features include an 8MP rear camera with auto focus and twin LED flash, a 1.3MP front-facing Skype compliant camera, 64GB internal memory and secure near field communication technology.

Another example of Vertu’s continued commitment to superior craftsmanship and engineering is VERTU TI’s audio ability. Its 11x15mm rectangular drivers are acoustically integrated into the chassis to maximise frequency response and playback level. Also available to the user who wishes to share his or her music is unrivalled symphonic sound from the phone’s own stereo speakers.

Each VERTU TI is handmade in England by a single craftsman at Vertu’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Hampshire. It is then signed by that craftsman on completion of a rigorous testing and detailing process before being shipped to buyers via one of over 500 stores around the world.

Vertu’s global sales turnover rose for the third consecutive year in 2012, continuing a trend that has seen sales growth every year since 2002, barring only 2009. A strong product roadmap is in place to ensure that this trend continues over the coming years.

Technical Specification: Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, dual Core 1.7GHz processor 64GB internal memory 8MP rear camera 1080p Video Capture 1.3MP front camera Secure NFC , inc. tap to pay Full/Micro/Nano SIM capability

VERTU TI combines distinctive Vertu design cues, such as the ceramic pillow and exposed watch screws, with a clean overall aesthetic, the result of which is a product that conveys a timeless elegance.

A new feature of VERTU TI is the Vertu key, which provides instant access to a curated world of benefits and services available via a global team of professionals available to customers wherever they may be, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. These services include Vertu Certainty, which helps protect the device, its data and, where necessary, the customer. Vertu Life - tailored information, articles and benefits - sits alongside Vertu’s famous Concierge Service.

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Massimiliano Pogliani, Vertu’s Global Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, said, “VERTU TI is the most rounded product that we have ever designed. The new Android platform and elegant physical presence combined with Vertu’s renowned curated benefits and services deliver a unique and exceptional proposition.”

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Vertu’s Head of Global Design, Ignacio Germade said, “VERTU TI is a pivotal product for Vertu. It is where the timelessness of Vertu design meets contemporary technological elements. Long-standing Vertu customers will appreciate the style, the weight and the materials while those yet to experience Vertu products will engage with the clean, elegant lines, superior feel and contemporary operation. As Vertu continues to grow, we will develop a design language that will satisfy the large number of our customers that appreciate classic simplicity of ranges such as Signature, while reaching out to new customers with hand crafted, elegant designs and technology that engages and inspires.”

Vertu President and CEO, Perry Oosting said, “VERTU TI is our most significant product for a decade. Android 4.0 delivers a proven and intuitive environment for users while the design and craftsmanship of the handset remains uniquely Vertu. Vertu has pioneered and led the luxury mobile phone sector since we began in the late 90s and the great depth of our knowledge and experience can be seen in VERTU TI. There is nothing else like it.” VERTU TI now means that our customers can leave the house in the morning with just this phone in their pocket or bag without the need for any other device.”

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Downloading and streaming have transformed music playback so much that a generation of younger listeners has never even handled physical formats. Why bother with CDs, when you can stream through your phone, or carry an iPod or iPad? No tapes, no discs – a no-brainer. But as with every new movement, there’s usually a backlash, and the backlash is the venerable vinyl LP. Compact Disc has been around for 30 years, and even MP3 is ‘last century’, while the iPod itself has completed its first decade.

FIN

SME Model 30-12

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Their effect on ‘proper’ hi-fi, consisting of separate amplifiers, speakers and a player of some sort has been devastating: most people seem happy with the wheezy noise of an iPod dock or the sizzle of cheesy headphones. But hard-core music lovers have returned to the vinyl LP, for two simple reasons: they sound better, and the packaging is an art form in itself.

Because the major record labels gave up on the LP when CD arrived, very few pressing plants have survived and the raw materials are harder to source. The modern LP buyer is left with two choices. Brand-new LPs are made with more love and care than albums were in the past, with prices that reflect this, while used LPs – the most popular method of building up a library – vary in condition.

Find a good second-hand record shop that rates its LPs accurately, and it’s possible to have discs that are almost as good as new.

TechDas Air Force ONE Whatever path the new vinyl junkie chooses, 12in black plastic records demand kid-glove treatment. The main reason why CD was able to gain a foothold is because they’re read by a laser and don’t wear out over time. LPs are fragile, and need proper storage as well as ‘quality’ playback equipment.

If you’ve been bitten by the bug, but haven’t inherited a record deck – let alone a library of LPs – the market is bursting with turntables, from £29 to the price of a new Bentley. It all depends on how much you care about sound quality, and what you’ll do to reproduce music in your home with

uum

Contin

rn Calibu

lifelike authenticity.

To

test

the

waters, you could try any of the entry-level turntables from Pro-Ject, who are about to release a ‘starter’ model called the Elemental for around £150. On the other hand, the turntable equivalents of Aston-Martin, Ferrari and Bugatti are the Britishmade SME 30/12 (£26,017), TechDAS’ Air Force One from Tokyo (£75,000) and the Continuum Caliburn System from Australia (£165,000). One spin of your favourite album, and you’ll think that ‘download’ is a four-letter word.

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Become a member now to save 63%.

Annual membership (four issues) is ÂŁ30 for a limited time, normally ÂŁ80.

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investments

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A RTi cle -

Art as an investment. ough economic times and a double dip recession have taken their toll on traditional forms of investment. Property values have plummeted and many share portfolios are barely worth the sum invested. But one commodity which has been increasingly bucking this trend lately, is art.

And like football, music and theatre – the current British contemporary and urban art scene is head and shoulders above the rest of the world.

While art is a small word, it represents a large world and takes on many formats. Canvas originals are keenly collected but can also be costly. Their value lies in the artist’s ability, reputation and the fact that there is usually just one.

Current darling of the Brit art scene ‘Charming Baker’ is a brilliant example of canvas investment.

Four years ago a Baker canvas could be snapped up for £4k at events like the London Art Fair. Now you’d need to find £60k to £80k to own a Baker.

Entry price for emerging artists’ canvas/original work should fall between the £2k to £4k figure.

The other end of the spectrum is digitally printed giclee prints. These are the easiest and cheapest forms of editioning artwork – but there is a reason for that. Giclee prints – while high quality – are computer print outs… And you can keep hitting Apple P and create as many as you want as quick as you like. Each print is identical and can be a little flat. They are often hand finished

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or embellished by the artist in an attempt to make them more desirable. You are not likely to make a great profit from collecting giclee prints.

Slap bang in the middle is limited edition silk screen prints, a great area for the collector and investor alike. Screen printed limited editions tend to be produced by hand by experienced master printers. By difficulty of process each print can have its own characteristics. Colours are laid down individually and the whole process can be both time consuming and expensive. But the results can be awesome. Screens to create a stencil for each colour are photographically produced and then destroyed after the full edition has been printed. To add to the edition would involve repeating many tricky processes – not simply hitting a keyboard command.

While screen printed editions are again valued by the artist’s reputation and ability – size of the edition, number of colours used and the allimportant hand numbering and signing affect value and collectability. The value of a limited edition will also rise as the edition sells out and the print only becomes available as an aftermarket sale.

Limited edition screen prints can be picked up for under £100 or for several thousands of pounds.

Avoid unsigned screen prints – there may be little or no actual connection between the finished piece of work and the artist themselves – a major turn-off for the serious collector.

“Just Steve”

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great example of how limited edition screen prints can rocket in price is everyone’s favourite street artist Banksy. Now while we all know Banksy’s work can reach seven figures – these are original pieces painstakingly removed from inner city walls. Banksy’s Pulp Fiction screen print – bought online from Pictures On Walls for little more than £100 less than 10 years ago could now fetch up to £15,000.

But the million dollar question… who to invest in? The sensible answer is to invest in up and coming artists whose work you actually like. That way you are in a win-win situation, regardless of how prices behave. Less established artists are where you will pick up a bargain and hopefully earn some cash. Look for artists that are only in a few galleries, this suggests it’s early days in their commercial careers.

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Another pointer with limited edition screen prints is to look for relatively small edition numbers. Large print runs are costly and the new kid on the block won’t have the resources or backing of a large studio to cover expensive printing costs.

While good art is hard to find, most galleries now have a strong online presence. Jealous Gallery and Print Studios, Art Republic, Beautiful Crime and Hang Up Pictures are great examples of proactive galleries. All three impressively use social media, internet blogs and articles to promote their work and their artists. Regular visits to their sites and signing up as facebook friends or hitting like on gallery fan pages likes will keep you up to date with what is happening.

Study the artists represented by these galleries and look for a pattern of increased print prices. An artist on the up will steadily increase the price of their work as new editions are added or older editions sell out.

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oaded Magazine recently named nine British artists worth investing in – included in that line up were the likes of Pure Evil, Ryca, Ben Allen and Russell Marshall.

Probably the lesser known of this bunch is Marshall. His first print was released Feb 2010 for £125 through Jealous gallery. The print sold out in just a matter of months and more colourways were released at a higher price. The first time his work was made available at Battersea’s Affordable Art Fair, 24 were sold through one gallery alone.

Marshall’s prices have steadily increased but still offer an attractive deal. His latest series of prints called Photo Opportunity: The Collection, feature the original police mugshots of Hollywood and rock ‘n’ roll royalty. The collection of six screen prints was launched in November last year at a relatively small debut show. 60 prints were sold in the first few days. Smaller prints are priced £325 larger prints £450 and original stainless steel work fetches upwards of £2,000.

That’s a 360 percent rise in value for the screen prints. The collection has recently been snapped up by Bacardi bosses and is running a six week exhibition at their London HQ.

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Marshall comes from the same Jealous Gallery stable as Charming Baker and has fast become one of the top sellers for both Jealous and Artepublic. His output is prolific – with some 24 different editions now under his belt… Many of which are completely sold out. His work was recently auctioned by Christies at the “Something Special Art Show”–a charity art auction featuring the cream of current artists including Julien Opie, Mr Brainwsh, Pure Evil and many more – someone bagged a bargain.

“Just Elvis”

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Watch out for

Bad Investments Footballers have been caught up in the mess left by complex finance schemes which have left some players bankrupt or facing big money problems.

Tempted by the prospect of inviting legal tax avoidance tools, scores of big name players have been investing their money in the hope of lucrative returns.

Stars like David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are all known to have been among the list of names who have bought into the deals, some of which are centred on the film industry.

While there is no suggestion any of those players have lost out in any way, others are believed to have encountered problems and been left staring at a financial abyss.

Martin Taylor is chief executive of a company called Rebus, who pursue cases of mis-selling on behalf of individuals who have lost money on the schemes. And he claims to have clients, including a group of current and recently retired top flight stars.

Taylor said: “One is close to financial ruin and another was meant to retire but has been forced to continue playing to meet huge tax bills that he wasn’t expecting but are a result of a scheme he invested in years ago,” said Taylor. “I know there are lots of cases and they are the tip of the iceberg.”

Rebus says that a detailed analysis of Companies House records shows that 219 Premier League footballers in the last 15 years have invested in one

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or more of 128 different ‘tax relief’ schemes, also known as Unregulated Collective Investment Schemes (UCIS). Players most commonly involved are understood to have played for Manchester United, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, West Ham, Newcastle and Tottenham and are believed to have invested up to £2.4m each.

According to the Financial Services Authority, USICs are high-risk, unsuitable for the majority of retail customers. Typically, such schemes are based around areas which are hard to assess asset valuation, such as film, music and fine wine. Because of this, there is good potential to be a tax benefit when investing in such plans.

But Taylor says some players were not made aware of the risks of these schemes—with tax deferral rather than avoidance the unexpected outcome—and some were actively encouraged to invest by agents, who took commission but no pastoral care.

The PFA are aware of problems involving ‘highprofile players’, with deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes admitting: “There are issues coming out of some film schemes we know about.”

One London law firm that look after a small stable of Premier League players says it is impossible to quantify the precise sums involved.

One unnamed insider said: “We’re aware of it, but it’s unlikely many players involved would tell the PFA. “If it’s 100 players investing £1m per year over 10 years, it could be £1bn. It could be more.”

i n v e s t m e n t s

Investment & financial planning Basic Principles of Good Financial Planning

by Andy Bracken of Timothy James and Partners

The biggest decision will be who to use and how to trust them. Referral is probably a pretty good place to start, so if you respect others, and they have an adviser they recommend then that is a fair option. If you have other advisers, such as Accountants or Solicitors, then they will probably have contacts – but make sure that they are independent. The role of any adviser should be to support, inform and provide information and not just sell a product. Most of all make sure you like the person you are using, that is important.

Building Trust:

Tax:

Make sure that the adviser spends plenty of his time – at his expense – getting to understand you, your assets, liabilities, needs, requirements, aims and ambitions. Any advice needs to cover all aspects of financial planning which can involve, Cash Structures, Banking relationships, Accountant referral, Property Advice and many other things. Any adviser trying initially to ‘push’ a product is probably not for you. Also, check how long the adviser has worked at the firm and how long the firm has been in business. You want continuity.

If you have an accountant he should be working hand in hand with your Financial Adviser – everybody should be aligned in thinking about your best interests. If there is a potential tax saving from investments – i.e. a Pension Contribution for example – then adviser and accountant should be guiding you towards this.

Planning: Investments: Don’t believe that investments are hugely complicated because principally all investments fall into 5 main asset classes. These are Cash, Fixed Interest (Bonds and Gilts), Property (both Residential and Commercial), Stocks and Shares and Commodities (i.e. Oil, Gold, Wheat etc.). That is it. It is usually wise, and sensible, to have some exposure to all in time, but clearly the allocation will greatly depend on the risk you are prepared to take. Make sure your Adviser explains the risk of investments and puts everything in writing.

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Everybody with assets and disposable income should make a financial plan and that is part of the work that the adviser should undertake at the outset. Pretty much everybody should have Cash Assets, be using ISA allowances to the maximum, have a Pension Structure and be investing into a Property or Properties. These are probably the four areas that should always be considered before anything else. Keep the structure simple and make sure you understand it.

Review Investment views will change, as will your needs and requirements. An annual review with your adviser is essential and every 6 months even better. Make sure that is being done.

It helps to make sure there are ‘no nasty surprises’.

Timothy James and Partners Limited meet around 50-60 Investment Professionals – fund managers and Economists – at the beginning of every year and it results in the production of the Timothy James and Partners Investment Report. This year we have highlighted 28 Core funds that we particularly wish to support.

Here are four that you might wish to follow:

TROY TROJAN With so much uncertainty and fear in the world, this fund is reassuringly dull. It is trying to achieve a positive real return each year regardless of Investment conditions.

NEWTON GLOBAL HIGHER INCOME Solid and dependable Blue Chip Global Equity fund delivering consistent return from holding some of the biggest companies in the world.

INVESCO PERPETUAL LATIN AMERICA

FIRST STATE GLOBAL EMERGING MARKET LEADERS

Principally invested into Brazil (62.71%) and has the potential to tap into the fact that the World Cup and Olympics are heading that way.

A specialist investor focussed on shares of companies in Emerging Markets, and able to tap into the huge growth in the consumer within these regions. Holdings include South Africa (12.2%), India (10.2%), Taiwan (9.9%), Korea (8.7%), Chile (8.3%), Brazil (6.7%) and China (6.3%).

Timothy James & Partners Limited have been successfully looking after Individuals and Businesses since 1995. We have steadily grown assets under advice to over £450 million. We are focussed on building long term relationships and working on a referral basis only. We are in the top 100 IFAs in the UK (based on the Citywire survey), and pay no commissions or bonuses to client facing staff or directors – just a well-earned salary.

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%RSXLIV ;SVPH

Even for those accustomed to luxury in life, Rizon Jet exceeds expectations.

When you step out of your private jet at either of our FBOs, you enter a new realm of exclusivity. Our exquisitely appointed terminals in Doha and London, Biggin Hill offer everything from opulent lounges to tranquil prayer rooms – while our pristine maintenance facilities ensure your aircraft receives the same VIP treatment.

Only when you fly with Rizon Jet are the best seats in the sky matched by what’s waiting for you on the ground.

For more information please contact Doha on +974 4419 9400 London, Biggin Hill on +44 1959 543 100 or email sales@rizonjet.com

www.rizonjet.com

p r o perty

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Advice on Buying Property

Grant is the founding director of Timothy James Property Advice & Search.

Grant Aitken originally trained as a lawyer working in a leading sport law department headed by Fraser Reid, Partner of Couchmans LLP. Having decided that the law was not for him he then moved into the property world and after working as an estate agent then carved a career sourcing property for a range of high profile clients. Clients have included professional footballers, musicians, actors, film directors, members of royal families and leading businessmen and women.

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Do Your Research & Be Prepared.

Once you have decided to buy, research the area you have identified. The internet is great but it is often much more useful to speak to local agents or friends who live in an area. Try to understand prices, for example if you are buying in parts of London then price per square foot is a very useful starting point for understanding relative values. As a buying agent we use sophisticated databases and systems to fully understand local markets so we can advise our clients about the best options.

Be Prepared and appoint good advisors.

Some of the most sophisticated buyers choose to use buying agents as advisors to ensure they are sourcing the best opportunities and are paying the right price.

You must remember that estate agents are there to act for their clients (the seller) and while some might help you, they are there to get the best price for the property. Typically buying agents charge an initial retainer and then a fee of between 1.5% and 2.5% of the purchase price of the property bought.

I also always recommend people appoint solicitors as soon as possible.

Good lawyers might be a little more expensive but they will save you time, energy and probably money by being efficient and getting the deal done. It is also useful to use solicitors that are local to the areas you are buying in. For example, if you were buying a flat in London then try and use a London solicitor, they might have dealt with the local leases before.

Get your finances in place.

If you are planning to buy with a mortgage then speak to your mortgage advisor as soon as possible. The mortgage process now takes longer than it ever has before so, to avoid missing out on a property that you want to buy, ensure that you have an ‘Agreement in Principle’ in place. If you are buying with 100% cash, make sure that this is ready and on account.

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Buying Property

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Structure your Purchase it may be that it makes sense to buy the property through a trust/company structure. Though new legislation has sought to discourage purchases through special purpose vehicles (essentially a limited company set up to buy a property or other asset), they may still be appropriate for some buyers. Again take advice of either your solicitor or financial advisor.

The old cliché It is a cliché but location, location, location is correct. Huge parts of the UK market are flat as a pancake with no sign of any price growth, or indeed any signs that demand is picking up. This is largely due to the lack of mortgage finance available, and a general lack of confidence, which means buyers are sitting on their hands and not willing to commit to a purchase. Indeed, in many parts of the UK, even dropping the price will not speed up the sale home while other areas are seeing activity. The key is to understand what drives the local market: Compare this to London and parts of the south east and the difference is striking. The London market particularly continues to rise

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as international investors see London as one of the most desirable cities in the world in which to own a property.

These factors are important to understand and might affect your purchase depending on whether you are looking to buy a home or an investment as it affects whether you are likely to see the value of the property rise and whether the property will be easy to sell on if you are moving clubs.

In Summary: it comes back to research and understanding the market you are buying into. Is it liquid, is it desirable to a range of buyers or are there only a few buyers for the type of property and so will it be hard to resell?

Be Discrete!

I have dealt with a number of footballers and have dealt with superstars who understand they need to be discrete and other players that arrive with a huge entourage and insist on tweeting during the property visits telling their mates what they are up to.

The point is that some players end up paying a ‘footballer’s premium’ because they approach the process with the wrong attitude.

My view is that the smart thing to

do is to pay the lowest possible price for the property. I recently acted for a leading premiership player who followed this advice, we also made sure the vendor and the player didn’t meet until we had agreed the deal. The net result was that the player bought the house at a significant discount while the house next door was sold to another player at a premium.

Investment & International Purchases Many footballers quite rightly invest in property. It is a good store of wealth provided you buy in the right location to make sure the value goes up and that the property can be resold if required. Further, a lot of players also invest in new flat developments and international property.

Developers often portray these as a one way ticket to making money. We always look very closely at new flat schemes because even in the most prime residential areas we think there are good and bad developments to invest in. The key things to look at are the finances and quality of the developer. This is particularly important overseas. During the financial crash of 2008, there were a number of high profile developments in the Caribbean, Spain, Dubai and in the UK where building was stopped either permanently or temporarily.

Dubai particularly saw significant price

falls but thankfully the market does now seem to have recovered.

The other key element to understand, with either large developments in the UK or international projects, is supply. Quite simply, how many flats or houses are being built and is that number too many?

The classic example of this overseas is Spain where there was just too much building of holiday homes. It might mean you can buy a property cheaply but when you either try to rent or sell the property there is so much competition from all the other properties that any buyer has a huge choice. The result is that prices for both renting and selling stay low.

Therefore, when advising clients on purchasing in new developments in the UK or overseas we target exclusive, boutique developments which will always feel special and will attract a premium.

The p r o p e r t y m a r k e t i s c o m p l e x .

There are many pitfalls but by taking advice you can make e d u c a te d d e c i s i o n s a b o u t wh a t a n d w h e r e t o b u y.

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Suite Dreams...

Photographed in The Infinity Suite Lounge at The Langham, London

The Langham, London has sprung to life, revealing the rewards of an exquisite transformation.

With luxurious accommodation in the centre of London’s West End, your senses will be captivated as the original ‘Grand Hotel’ re-captures the heart of London.

Discover The Langham, London: langhamlondon.com 1c Portland Place, Regent Street, London, W1B 1JA T 44 (0) 20 7965 0191

Home & family

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H ome C inema Vanessa Brady International interior designer & consultant

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Defining luxury is not just about affordability… although having the funds helps. Luxury is about creating something exclusive, it’s better than average, it’s something only those in the know can acquire. Design is a skill, it’s trained and it’s highly qualified. The difference between one designer and another can be enormous – just like a pair of shoes, you get what you pay for. You can easily make errors, sometimes

having money isn’t everything, it can work against you, and it can attract the wrong attention.

Choosing a designer that understands and has the experience to achieve your ambition is paramount but just one of several success factors. If you are not sure how the entire home or individual room layouts will work before you start the result definitely won’t be what you want when it’s complete.

Designing a TV cinema room, for example, needs a lot of considerations for the outcome to be successful.

Firstly, decide how you like to sit to view the screen, if its upright on individual armchairs the room layout is very different to the space-design for sofas.

If you want to watch TV in the same room with friends as you do as a couple, the layout will need adaptation. Good design, if planned into the installation process, will factor in these types of non-permanent and interchangeable options, from a small intimate family space to multi-use entertaining space.

It may mean that seating needs to be reconfigured to move at a push of a button or it may simply be the room layout is designed to fit both scenarios in one layout. Either way, the room will work to fit your needs… and it will also be beautifully designed.

What about some fun with the design of a mini cinema room? We have dealt with the layout, we can

specify the screen size and begin to add the drama, maybe grand curtains across the entire screen wall that open and close by remote control? A wet bar and a popcorn machine? You could forget the sofas and buy actual home cinema seating. Generally, if you have the space, have cinema seats installed, they can recline at a flick of a button for indulgent comfort. A home cinema could also have a tiered floor with lighting insets directing you to your seat. Fantasy can be achieved when great design is blended with dreams.

Creating a beautiful home is difficult in itself, because there are so many factors to be addressed; from safety for children and pets to elderly visiting relatives, building regulations and scale. When creating a showpiece home remember that it must still be comfortable to live in – you can have both. You cannot live in a museum so don’t make your home so ‘perfect’ that it’s uncomfortable.

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P atrick H ellmann UK (PHC)

Interior Design & Furniture launch It has been long assumed that Patrick Hellmann is merely a luxury German fashion brand, but it is so much more than just that.

Along with the perfectly lined tailored suits, which are hand made to perfection, they have also recently ventured into the high-end contract & retail interior design market.

The German based designer, who has been hailed in the fashion world as the German Tom Ford, may now be known as an innovator in the interior design world. Only recently emerged into the UK interior scene, Patrick Hellmann has been such a success in Europe, that he

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has ventured to the UK to help support the ever growing niche of luxury living.

The contemporary product based items that the brand offers have been met with rapturous applause and rave reviews throughout Europe and some of the design and furniture pieces can now be viewed at the exclusive Patrick Hellmann store on St. James’s Street, London where the opulent store opens it’s doors to not only high end men’s fashion but a retail store designed and populated with all furniture pieces part of the Patrick Hellmann luxury living portfolio.

Alongside the interior design aspect of the business, PHC also designs and produces items of furniture and accessories to fit any interior specification. All items are made to order and each product and design can be tweaked to a customer’s specification (trade or consumer) as has been the case on many projects already delivered throughout the world, including a 5 star residential project in Germany, a private yacht in Monaco as well as number of private homes throughout the world.

All Patrick Hellmann stores around the world have been designed and developed by them, to help amplify what they do best in the world of luxury fashion and interiors.

With an interior as stylish as the clothing, the grey marble, with black lacquer cabinets and bursts of signature royal purple in the fittings, the main body of the St James’s street store is divided into three distinct sections.

Slick black chest of drawers, grand chandeliers and stylish console tables and elegant unique table lamps are only a handful of items that the company produce and will be centre of attention with major UK interior designer or for specifying for luxury residential, hotel and private 5 star living.

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Patrick Hellmann can also offer a full interior design service, with everything from designing the perfect interior to any home or project, to conceptual renders, colour scoping each room to fit an owner’s personality. The interior design service not only offers expert advice from a very skilled set of artists, but also they can make any item of furniture to suit the needs for the interior trade professional or directly for client specification. Patrick Hellmann has designed many private and public projects and will always have a special PHC quality touch to each and every new project or product they develop within their German factory.

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With many projects on a national and international level being commissioned, the German based brand is set for world wide success and with collaborations having already taken place with the likes of Audi, Lalique and talks with major hotels around the world, the brand will no doubt be a stamp for the ultimate in luxury living.

Ranging from long sleek dining tables, to desks the likes of Don Draper would be proud of, Patrick Hellmann makes furniture for men and women with class, quality and sophistication.

B entley

I nteriors

You’ve got the car. Now you can bring that luxe leather and exceptional craftsmanship inside as Bentley team up with Club House Italia to develop its new Bentley Home Collection.

The state-of-the-art pieces – seen here in the only images available so far – are steeped in the elegant heritage of the brand, but look ahead with fresh vision and a modern aesthetic to create prestigious pieces that will suit homes from the traditional to the contemporary.

Bentley’s Stefan Buescher said: ‘For more than 90 years Bentley has produced the world’s finest hand-crafted car interiors. Now we are making our approach to luxury available to people’s homes and offices.

Club House Italia - known for their sumptuous home, hotel, yacht and private jet furnishings – bring a wealth of experience to the table while Bentley supply that inimitable blend of reassuring quality with sleek style.

Bentley say the new Home Collection will combine the ‘traditional élan of the British driver’s spirit with a new modern English twist’, an approach they say is already articulated in the Bentley suite at the Regis hotel in New York.

Watch this space for more details as they are released.

Visit www.bentleymotors.com/world_of_bentley/latest_news__events/bentley_to_bring_its_style_inside/

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S ybarite Who doesn’t love the idea of wearing a unique piece of jewellery?

Something elevated so far above the norm that no one else will have the same - guaranteed. British jewellers Sybarite offer just that: bold, extravagant designs for what they say is the ‘sophisticated and cultured customer, seeking something unique’. Their striking designs are masterpieces that combine fantasy with finesse in such an intricate way that you can be sure you are buying a one-off. We love the Fairground ring: - a ruby, emerald, sapphire and diamondstudded carousel bearing tiny horses with gold manes.

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Elsewhere, opium poppies dusted with countless black and white diamonds, or rubies are irresistible. A cheeky Drink and Dial ring in the form of a diamond-studded telephone with mother-of-pearl face is a lust-have too. The heritage collection channels Russian flavour with the Diamond Jubilee ring: a knuckle-dusting pink quartz caged in white diamonds that is satisfyingly heavy enough to use for bicep curls. The men’s collection is slimline - Sybarite is one for the ladies, if we’re brutally honest - but the very small collection is luxe: black and white diamonds all the way.

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Hes pe ria

M a d ri d The Essence of Luxury, New concepts in hospitality On the imposing Paseo de la Castellana in the heart of Madrid, the City’s deluxe hospitality offering took a giant leap forward when, in March 2001, a 42 million Euros investment from the Hesperia Group culminated in the official opening of the new Hesperia Madrid Hotel. After a remarkable launch year, the hotel soon became a reference among the five star hotels in the city.

The joint expertise of a five-star cast of the most experienced international hoteliers, interior designers, architects and stylists, topped out by one of Spain’s leading restaurants, provides visitors to the capital with a unique, mature and warmly Mediterranean slant on today’s luxury hotel experience.

The décor combines the breathtaking contemporary ambiance of the lobby, bars and restaurants - created by the leading edge Spanish designer Pascua Ortega – with the more classic style of its 171 rooms (32 of them suites). Meeting rooms, with a capacity of up to 500, exude quality in their awesome attention to detail. Welcome courtesies and fresh flowers embellish the rooms and Bvlgari bath accessories line the sumptuous bathrooms.

In this ultimate hedonist’s paradise one of Spain’s leading interior designers, Mercedes González López de Carrizosa, has decorated four magnificent penthouse suites with decked, landscaped terraces, offering panoramic views of the City from their private jacuzzis.

All the trimmings of twenty-first century technology include complimentary Wi-Fi technology throughout the hotel, a one-stop call centre for all guest services, mobile telephony, and a state-of-the-art business centre.

All facilities have been integrated into a design for easy living and efficient business travel.

Experience and Youth Causing a major stir in the Spanish press, a carefully trained multilingual staff was recruited with an innovative casting-call style interviews, that attracted over 600 applicants. Assisted by a theatre director, the Hotel used improvisation auditions and team-building tests in order to find the best candidates.

The objective was to create a house style of proactive service that was efficient, yet delivered with an attentive and easy approach to put guests at ease and cement the relationship with the client. The result was a significant departure from existing deluxe Madrid hotels. The average age of the Hesperia’s staff is just 28.

Designer Style with Gourmet Cuisine Reflecting the latest trend in hotel restaurants that hold their own as local and international gourmet landmarks, the Hesperia Madrid is home to the new Madrid’s Must Go To in fine dining, its Santceloni Restaurant.

For more than a decade, the great Santi Santamaria managed the Santceloni restaurant, stamping each dish with his personal style.

Now, after Santi Santamaria’s passing, the group, headed by Chef Oscar Velasco, Maître d’ Abel Valverde and Sommelier David Robledo, continues working under the principles of its maestro: respect the finest raw materials, give importance to local produce and use strong technique in the kitchen service, while maintaining authenticity as standard.

Flights in association with Air Europa Air Europa, the airline company of the Globalia tourism group, is a full member of the SkyTeam alliance. Last year it carried 9 million passengers, making it the second largest Spanish airline in this regard. Committed to the environment and with state-of-the-art technology, Air Europa has the highest quality and safety standards.

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A r ma ni Hotel Dubai

...is the first hotel designed by Giorgio Armani and is the epitome of style and taste.

The fashion designer has brought the essence of Italian chic to this hotel housed in the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa. Soaring above downtown Dubai it delivers commanding views of the city and its glittering skyline.

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Guests here are treated to a veritable once-in-a lifetime experience with aesthetically stunning signature suites and rooms; a broadly excellent choice of seven innovative restaurants; exclusive boutiques, the first in-hotel Armani/ SPA and, crucially, a team of round the clock Lifestyle Managers – part of the ‘Stay with Armani’ philosophy that ensures a ‘home-away-from-home’ experience.

Armani Hotels & Resorts strongly believe that travel is as much an emotional journey as a physical one. As a result, each hotel guest is lucky enough to be assigned a personal Lifestyle Manager. Think of this as a personal contact and host, available to you from the moment you book your room until checking out, and beyond. Nothing is too much trouble! You need someone to give you the best addresses in Dubai, fix you a meal in the middle of the night or take care of your laundry ‑ no worries, it’s all taken care of in the blink of an eye!

This hotel is so much more than a luxurious, stylish and elegant holiday and business destination ‑ it has been meticulously designed and laid out by Giorgio Armani himself, with the guest’s comfort in mind at all times. This means that every detail, from the bespoke furnishings to the restaurant menus and in-room amenities are the fruit of painstaking planning, and an appreciation for the guest’s emotional reaction. The plan has been plainly successful as we are certain you will agree when you

are reclining on your king sized bed, looking out at the uninterrupted view of the landmark Dubai Fountain outside your window. The seven hotel restaurants cater to all manner of tastes and include a selection of world cuisines ranging from Japanese and Indian to Mediterranean and authentic Italian fine dining. Also popular among guests are the three exclusive retail outlets: Armani/Galleria, the first and only place in Dubai where the Giorgio Armani/ Prive collection is showcased; Armani/Dolci, a luxurious confectionery store offering a selection of chocolates, and more; and Armani/Fiori, a floral boutique offering exquisite fresh flower arrangements and exclusively designed vases by Giorgio Armani.

Relaxation and pampering the senses are taken very seriously here too and, as a result, the hotel has introduced the Armani/SPA that offers fully tailored sensory experiences that suit individual needs. Each unique space in the Armani/SPA provides a context for personalised treatments, personal fitness and sequential thermal bathing, as well as for private and social relaxation.

Downtown Dubai, described as “The Centre of Now” is the place to be. The hotel is just walking distance from The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, but the chances are you won’t stray too far from the serenity of Armani Hotel Dubai...

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Canouan Resort The Grenadines | West Indies Canouan Resort & the Grenadines Estate Villas lie at the heart of The Grenadines in the south-eastern Caribbean, 20 minutes from Barbados and St Lucia.

Everything about this resort spells relaxation as it covers 2/3 of the island essentially making it a private island with lagoons and secluded surroundings. A collection of stunning 2-7 bedroom villas offer guests private pools and are dotted with hidden coves and beautiful white beaches. Coral reefs provide excellent diving spots and there are plenty of water sports as well as tennis and golf, with a stunning 18-hole championship golf course regarded as one of the best in the world. The view from the 13th hole is particularly spectacular.

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Elsewhere, the four signature restaurants offer a great choice of fine cuisine and your wine will be chilled and served to perfection.

The team of attentive staff prides themselves on the ultimate personalised service for each and every guest – your glass will never be empty by the pool and they’ll remember your name. The 24 hour concierge service sees to it that every detail goes to plan so you can just get on with enjoying your holiday to the full.

When you book a suite for Villa for a 7-night stay, you can arrive in true James Bond style with a Jet transfer to the resort at weekends. For full-on indulgence at the Canouan Resort Spa, and when planning day trips be sure to visit Tobago Cays.

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DPNY Beach Hotel I l h ab el a / Brazi l

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Sitting on one of the world’s most beautiful islands, (less than 200kms from São Paulo International Airport), DPNY Beach Hotel Ilhabela is a prized spot for sun-lovers looking for fun, immaculate beaches, exciting music and worldclass contemporary cuisine.

The décor is exclusive and trendy with art pieces dotted throughout the hotel, inspired by the hippie and chic. The hotel oozes romance, calm, glamour and innovation in equal parts and boasts breathtaking scenery.

Guests are well-catered for at the Beach Club which is considered one of the best in South America where the hip and cool come to chill. Try your hand at stand up paddling, kayaking, kite-surfing, diving and wakeboarding, or book a motorboat ride for some thrills. Also, from early afternoon, the resident DJ plays exclusive deep house music tracks, produced by the hotel’s own record label.

DPNY’s signature Hippie Chic Sangria is a favourite with guests as is Tróia Restaurant which offers top-class dishes like fresh sushi, oysters, and Mediterranean cuisine.

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H ote l D ani el i Veni ce/It aly

If Italy is arguably the origin of opulence, then Venice is the well from which it sprang.

Of all the stunning Venetian locales, the Hotel Danieli best epitomizes a typically unapologetic lavishness. Built in the 14th century for the Dandolos, a noble Venetian family, the Hotel Danieli has maintained its aura of regal luxury throughout the centuries. As you walk through the ancient wooden doors the scene is breathtaking.

Lustrous marble floors cover the expanse of the reception, while pink marble columns reach up to the intricately carved, golden ceilings. Riotous bursts of flowers tumble from intricate urns, as original Murano glass chandeliers sparkle overhead.

The rooms are similarly splendid; for an extraordinary experience, book the jewellike Royal Suite. Evoking Venice under the reign of the Doge Dandolo in 1192, the suite is swathed in golden tapestries,

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and bedecked in glittering crystal. Equally stunning are the three Signature suites designed by Pierre Yves-Rochon; drawing inspiration from three timeless beauties (the silver-screen siren Greta Garbo, the operatic diva Maria Callas, and the ethereal Princess Grace of Monaco), the suites are trimmed in elegantly sophisticated dove greys, soft bronzes, and pistachio greens, and are perfectly reminiscent of the eternal style of these women.

Sip a glass of Prosecco on the rooftop Terrazza Danieli, the Italian sunset staining the sky behind the Palazzo Ducale. The Hotel is ideally located on the Riva degli Schiavoni to provide easy access to the surrounding cultural attractions, including la Biennale di Venezia. For an appropriately luxurious end to your stay, take a wooden speedboat to the airport - we promise you won’t miss the traffic.

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Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa North Huvadhoo (Gaafu Alifu) Atoll / Maldives Hyatt’s first luxury hotel in the Maldives, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is a hidden paradise. Situated on an equatorial island in the North Huvadhoo (Gaafu Alifu) Atoll, the hotel is set against a backdrop of the Indian Ocean’s pristine, coral-filled waters. Located 400km south of Malé and only 56 km from the Equator, the hotel’s remote location means that it’s only accessible via private transfer by speedboat. This isn’t just another secluded hotel; it’s the ultimate hideaway. As soon as you step off the boat onto the immaculate white sand, you’re guaranteed complete tranquillity a million miles away from the intrusions of the outside world.

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From the rooms to the restaurants, the spa to the service, every aspect of this restful resort is aimed at helping you unwind. The accommodation is made up of just 50 villas set either amidst the lush vegetation of the island or on stilts over the sea.

Each of these suspended Park Water Villas offers panoramic 180° views as well as direct access to the crystalline Indian Ocean. Step inside your villa and you’ll find all the modern technology as well as the services of a dedicated Personal Host at your beck and call.

Days here are spent swimming in the pool overlooking the ocean, taking a private yoga class or trying one of the signature treatments at the Vidhun Spa. Nestled amongst the lush native flora of the island, the spa hosts five private couples treatment villas for the ultimate in private pampering. For dinner, choose between the international gourmet menu at The Dining Room or regionally inspired dishes at the Island Grill. The Island Grill’s food is the gastronomic incarnation of that indulgent holiday feeling. As you walk back to your villa, don’t forget to look up. The hotel lies just 56 kilometres from the equator, affording it a unique view of constellations from both the northern and southern hemispheres. Devoid of artificial light sources, the night sky is crystal clear and perfect for star-gazing.

For the most luxurious way to appreciate the island’s starry skies, head to the beach. Perched on the sand are the hotel’s beach cabanas -

perfect for star-gazing with a glass of premier cru champagne.

But here it’s the diving which reigns supreme.

The hotel boasts its own house coral reef which, encircling the island, sits just 30 metres from the beach. Rich with diverse marine wildlife, the Hadahaa House Reef claims the largest coral coverage of all 1,900 islands of the Maldives, complete with 250 species of coral and 1,200 species of fish. With the hotel’s 5-star PADI Dive and Activity Centre, you can choose to snorkel amongst the fish or dive to new depths with a private scuba diving lesson. The waters here are truly unbeatable, filled with undiscovered natural treasures just waiting to be explored.

Of course, the hotel is hopelessly romantic too, offering breathtakingly beautiful exotic weddings. But it isn’t just another hotel geared towards honeymooners – Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa provides any discerning traveller with the perfect relaxing vacation.

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Le Burgundy Paris Le Burgundy Paris is an ode to living good.

Oozing lightness and sophistication, the hotel is quintessentially Parisian with chic decor and understated elegance. It’s the ultimate in contemporary luxury, playing on the natural light which drenches the bright rooms and modern interiors. It is also fantastically located, sitting right in the heart of Paris on the prestigious Rue Saint Honoré. Yet Le Burgundy is intimate despite being in the middle of the hustle and bustle outside. Perfect then as a base for trips to the nearby shopping destinations, with some of the biggest names in fashion only minutes away. What’s more, Le Spa Burgundy provides the ideal post-retail therapy relaxation, with revitalizing pedicures to calm tired feet and soothing massages for those aching shoulders.

Once you’re restored, make sure you don’t miss the exclusive Le Baudelaire restaurant for dinner. The Michelin-starred restaurant has a fresh approach and holds some wonderful surprises in store for any self-respecting gourmet. The menu features some Parisian culinary classics that are given an international twist. The pastry chef’s creations served in the beautiful Winter Garden are worth saving yourself for but whatever you opt for, one thing is certain - the service will be impeccable. It’s friendly and efficient, lending warmth to what is undoubtedly a very cool hotel. Guests are treated like VIPs and tend to return time and again, which is why Le Burgundy feels like a home from home.

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Directo r

d i r e c t o r y

Quentin Willson (p.12-17) | www.quentinwillson.co.uk

England Footballers Foundation (p.22-23) | www.englandfootballersfoundation.com

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Western Union & Patrick Viera (p.24-27) | www.wu-pass.org Hill+Knowlton (p.29-31) | www.hillandknowlton.co.uk David Beckham (p.29-31) | www.davidbeckham.com Cristiano Ronaldo (p.32-33) | www.cristianoronaldoofficial.com Villa (p.42-45) | www.villa.it Riccardo Bestetti (p.46-47) | www.frecciabestetti.com Mr Hare (p.48-49) | www.mrhare.com Take a bow (tie)! (p.50) | www.mrporter.com Gatsby Style (p.51) | www.brooksbrothers.com Perfectly Attired (p.52-53) | www.perfectlyattired.com Mark Giusti (p.54-55) | www.markgiusti.com Lacoste (p.56-57) | www.lacoste.com Fraser Reid (p.60-63) | www.couchmansllp.com Phil Hall (p.64-65) | www.pha-media.com Jody Macdonald (p.72-74) | www.couchmansllp.com Sir Elton John (p.18-20) | www.eltonjohn.com Alex Green (p.66-69) | www.gbpassociates.com Katie Small (p.70-71) | www.rkhgroup.com Basel World (p.76-81) | www.baselworld.com Patek Philippe (p.77) | www.patek.com

Greubel Forsey (p.82-85) | www.greubelforsey.com Ulysse Nardin (p.86-88) | www.ulysse-nardin.com Vertu (p.90-92) | www.vertu.com Final Vinyl (p.94-95) | www.project-audio.com SME Model 30-12 (p.94) | www.sme.ltd.ukt TechDas Air Force One (p.95) | www.techdas.jp Continuum Caliburn Turntable (p.95) | www.continuumaudiolabs.com ARTicle (p.100-105) | www.russellmarshallart.com Andy Bracken (p.108-109) | www.tjpltd.co.uk Grant Aitken (p.112-115) | www.tjpas.co.uk Vanessa Brady MBA SBID (p.118-119) | www.vanessa-brady.com Patrick Hellmann (p.120-122) | www.patrick-hellmann.com/living Bentley Interiors (p.123) | www.bentleymotors.com Sybarite (p.126-127) | www.sybaritejewellery.com Hesperia Madrid (p.130-131) | www.hesperia-madrid.com Armani Hotel Dubai (p.132-133) | www.dubai.armanihotels.com Canouan Resort (p.134-135) | www.canouan.com DPNY Beach Hotel (p.136-137) | www.dpny.com.br Hotel Danieli (p.138-139) | www.danielihotelvenice.com Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa (p.140-141) | www.maldives.hadahaa.park.hyatt.com Le Burgundy Paris (p.142-143) | www.leburgundy.com Quintessentially | ww.quintessentially.com

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F ootballers’ L ife M agazine

Issue 2

Duncan Pratt Founder / Editor in Chief

Quentin Willson Motoring Advisor

David de Vries Art Director

Vanessa Brady Interior Designer

Alex Green Tax Advisor

Craig Boyland Designer

Mark Cotton Social Media

Marcio Quintella Fashion Advisor

Duncan Wright Sports Editor

Nick Edgley Commercial Luxury Advisor

Lauren de Vries Director of Operations

Lauren Gattos Contributing Editor

Nathalie Bradbury Quintessentially Editor

Argo Media NL Holland Print

Deborah Arthurs Contributing Editor

Fraser Reid Legal Advisor

info@footballerslife.com sales@footballerslife.com members@footballerslife.com Phone number: 0845 2714904

In this edition a Special Thanks to Sir Elton John

Max Nilov

Luke Lloyd Davies

Dave Room

Mick Budny

Jody Mcdonald

David Cronin

Quintessentially

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While every care is taken prices and details are subject to change, and Footballers Life ltd. takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part without Publishers permission is strictly prohibited. Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication is correct at the time of going to press, we cannot aceept any responsibilty for any loss or innconvenience however caused.

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