Footballers Life Issue 13

Footballers’ Life Magazine

Issue 13 €21.00 - £20.00

A d v i c e

&

L u x u r y

POST-BREXIT for football

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

L i f e s t y l e

Players & Agents Top 10 Cars for Players

DECLAN

RICE The

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

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

Contributors Marcio Quintela

Adrian Kajumba

Chief Stylist - Louis Vuitton

Journalist

Daniel Geey

6

Fraser Reid

Partner Sheridan’s Lawyers

Partner - Level Law

Deborah Arthurs

Max Nilov

Lifestyle Director

Art Advisor

Duncan Swift

Duncan Wright

Partner - Moore Stephens

Journalist

Chris Paget

Alex Harvey

Sports Lawyer

Sports Lawyer

Lewis Marsden Journalist

Ray James Head of Operations iSportsconnect

7

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

Welcome to the 13th edition of Footballers’ Life Magazine

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

Duncan Edward Pratt

Founder / Editor in chief

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

Once again our plans for this edition have changed and like the rest of the world we have had to adapt to meet the challenges thrown our way. There is still much uncertainty as we move into 2021 but we all hope the turn of the year brings positivity.

We have featured details of the new Brexit rules that will have a deep impact on professional players in the football market, particularly in relation to movements overseas.

As well as Brexit, this edition takes a look at the commercial and financial impact of COVID-19, whether players should pay their own agents as well as the value of top players decreasing.

In November the footballing world was rocked by the news of Diego Maradona’s passing. We pay our respects to Diego and his career with comments from players around the world regarding the Argentinian’s impact on the game we love so dearly.

As always this edition is packed full of fantastic insights into the footballing world, the latest gadgets, fashion, watches, cars and properties.

As we approach 2021, let’s all stay positive reaching out to friends, family and colleagues throughout the year ahead.

I hope you enjoy this edition.

Best wishes, Duncan

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c o n t e n t s

Contents 14-19

P o s t- Brex it f o r f ootba l l

30-31

21

CHAM PIONS LEAGUE CLUBS

Footballers life Footba l l e r s l i f e C on s u ltanc y

H OW T HEY M A K E T HEI R MONEY

24-25

C OV ID-19

C ont ro l l in g t h e comm e rcia l and f inancia l im pact on s p o rt s

26-29

m ost val uab le f oot b al l b ran d s in t h e fac e o f C OV I D - 19

32-35

AGENTS

SH O UL D PL AYERS PAY T HE I R OW N A GE N T S …?

38-40

Instagram va lu e t h e bi g g e s t e a r n e r s

10

36-37

F oot b a l l Age n ci e s

Wo r l d ’ s To p Fiv e Footba l l A g e nci e s

39

H EADS UP FU N D R A I S I N G F O R M E N TA L HE A LT H

56-57

Declan Rice O n En g l and

42-45

P l ay e r s Value S lu m p s b y € 1 4 4 M i l l ion in 2 0 2 0

54-55

E r ic Di e r

amba s s ado r f o r S p o rt e d

62-67

FOOTBALLERS CARS Most popular Cars

72-73 Nobis

Fa l l / W int e r 2020 C o l l e ction

50-53

Diego M aradona s ta r s SH A RE T HE I R M E M O R I ES

74-75 STOCKX

N e w S e a s on K ick s :

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c o n t e n t s

86-88

U R B A N I S TA LO N D O N S O U N D A N D S I LE N C E

76-77

Sn o w + Rock C o l d W e at h e r At h - L e i s u r e

90

Naim M u- so B e nt l e y S p e cia l Edition

79

90

S p e e dc ro s s 5 & P r e dict 2 T r ain e r s

B e nt l e y Radianc e h e ad p h on e s

Sa l o mon

Foca l

91

M a r s h a l l h e a d phone s Major IV

80-81

Ch a n e l J oa n El kaya m lu x u ry wom e n s w e a r D ES I G N ER

82-83

C AMP BELL MARSON WO RL D ’ S F I N ES T WO O D E N EYE W E A R

12

92

Warwick Ac ou stics 24 kt Go l d h e ad p h on e s

94-95

Ba r k & Ro ck lu x u r io u s j o u r na l s

104-105

A rnold & S on

P e r p e t u a l M oon O b s idian

100-103

Arnold & S on U lt r at h in To u r bi l l on Koi

118-119 Burlington

e l e g ant and t r aditiona l bat h room s c h e m e s

96-97

WEBER BARBECUES FR I LUF T SL I V FE A S T

108-109

B amford London G M T C o l l e ction

110-111 Ba mf o r d Lo n don M ay fai r D at e C o l o u r Rin g s

120-121

Limassol Del M a r ’ s l andma r k s e a f ront l ivin g

126-127

The CAMPUS

m u lti - s p o rt h u b

130-131

Quinta do L ag o A l g a rv e R e s o rt

116-117

USM

Ha l l e r M od u l a r F u r nit u r e

134-135

K i netic a

T r e nt A l e x and e r - A r no l d

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T

b r ex i t

HE departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union has been a draining topic for all over the past four years – but now it is about to drastically hit opportunities for footballers in this country and on the continent.

Like all other industries, football has now had to draw up regulations to ensure overseas players in this country are legally allowed to work here – and those being introduced dramatically change the landscape.

No side in the Premier League or EFL will now be able to sign foreign players until the age of 18, which means if those regulations were in place at the time then Arsenal would never have been able to bring Cesc Fabregas into the club.

And all transfers of players who are over 18 will now have to be subject to the issuing of work permits using a points-based system, ending the free-for-all for bring in European footballers that has been in place.

...drastically hit opportunities for footballers in this country and on the continent.

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“

Crucially, the leaving of the free-market also means European clubs will also have a far reduced ability to sign players from the UK, closing what has been a growing industry over the past few years.

The very best players, who are signed as a first team player for a sizeable fee and with a track record of international age group appearances to their name will still be permitted, such as Jude Bellingham’s switch to Borussia Dortmund.

But a points system will also be in place which players must reach a threshold before any club on the continent will be cleared to sign them, reducing the number of opportunities available to make the move overseas.

...players must reach a threshold before any club on the continent will be cleared to sign them...

“

A joint agreement between the FA, Premier League and EFL has revealed the new working arrangements, which come into force at the start of 2021, and have been approved by the Home Office.

They also limit the number of signings of overseas players, under the age of 21, at any one Premier League club to three in a single transfer window, and six over a season.

The FA are keen to use the opportunity to encourage clubs across the divisions to produce more home-grown talent, though at a time when some EFL sides are cutting their development squads it may not necessarily produce immediate results.

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b r ex i t

January’s changes will see the signing of EU players come more into line with the regulations already in place which govern the acquisition of talent from non-EU countries.

They require players to have played a high proportion of international matches, with a points-based system determined by a number of criteria, including senior and youth international appearances, the “quality of the selling club, based on the league they are in, league position and progression in continental competition” and club appearances, based on domestic league and continental competition minutes.

“

...ensuring opportunities for homegrown players.

A total of 15 points will be needed in order for the Home Office to grant a work permit, with the FA having pushed hard for a high bar to be reached as part of their development plans for youngsters in the country.

A joint statement between the FA, Premier League and EFL said: “Players accumulating the requisite amount of points will earn a Governing Body Endorsement automatically, while players just below the threshold may be considered for a GBE by an exceptions panel.

“The system meets the joint objectives of the Premier League and the FA allowing access to the best players and future talent for clubs, as well as safeguarding England teams, by ensuring opportunities for homegrown players.

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“In the Premier League, the number of overseas U21 players a club can sign will be limited to three in the January transfer window and six per season moving forwards. This enables the recruitment of the best players from around the world to train and play together with homegrown talent.

“The UK’s exit from the EU will also mean that clubs will not be able to sign players from overseas until they are 18. The leading football bodies have also agreed to work together to continue to improve the player pathway system.”

“

Mark Bullingham, the FA’s chief executive said: “Despite having different starting perspectives on how Brexit should impact football, this is another example of how the football authorities can work effectively together for the greater good of the game.

“We have a strong working relationship with both the Premier League and EFL and will monitor this new agreement together to ensure it evolves to best meet our joint objectives over time. We will also discuss improvements to the player pathway for the mutual benefit of football clubs and homegrown talent in this country.”

The UK’s exit from the EU will also mean that clubs will not be able to sign players from overseas until they are 18.

In the women’s game, the entry requirements will not take youth international appearances or the selling club’s progression in European competitions into account.

Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive, said: “The Premier League has worked with the FA to come to an agreement to ensure no part of Brexit should damage the success of the Premier League, or the prospects of the England teams.

“Continuing to be able to recruit the best players will see the Premier League remain competitive and compelling and the solution will complement our player development philosophy of the best foreign talent alongside the best homegrown players. Following the January transfer window, we look forward to reviewing the agreement with the FA.”

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b r ex i t

FIVE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE POST-BREXIT FA WORK PERMIT RULES

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The Basics: The previous Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) requirements only related to non-EEA players wishing to play in the EPL and EFL. This was because of the EU free movement provisions that benefitted all European workers wishing to work in the UK. The new system is relevant to any player who is not a citizen of the UK and has not acquired permanent residence, been granted pre-settled status or settled status under the government’s EU Settlement scheme. For the nuanced detail of the FA men’s GBE regulations, I would recommend this Thomas Horton piece. The below sets out an overview and some particular contextual examples for the men’s regulations.

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Route 1 – The Auto-Pass: A player will receive a GBE if his international appearances meet the auto-pass criteria. The national team criteria relate to his percentage of appearances and the team’s aggregate ranking. The latest list can be found here.

Based on the current rankings, the below are specific exa mples of pl ayers th at will benefit from the auto-pass criteri a and gain a GBE:

a. b. c.

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An Argentinian, Brazilian, French or Columbian national team player (currently in the top 10 FIFA aggregate rankings) who has made 30% or more international appearances during the relevant time period;

A Mexican, Chilean or Peruvian national team player (currently in 11-20 FIFA rankings) who has made 40% or more international appearances during the relevant time period;

A Japanese, American or Venezuelan national team player (currently in the 21-30 places in FIFA rankings) who has made 60% or more international appearances during the relevant time period.

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Route 2 – Points Mean Prizes: If the auto-pass route is not available for a player either because he hasn’t made the minimum percentage appearance requirements or his national team is not within the requisite FIFA ranking positions, then the FA has put in place a points based system. If a player accumulates 15 points or above, they will be granted a GBE. Points are scored based on:

a.

Domestic Minutes,

c.

Fin al League Position of Selling Club,

e.

League Qualit y of Selling Club.

Ex amp l e 1 A player playing for a Band 1 club (EPL, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1) will receive a GBE if he has:

· ·

“appeared in the squad list for the Player’s Last Club for at least one match in its domestic league competition or a Continental Competition” (12 points); and played in 30% of the available domestic league minutes (6 points).

As you can see, the lower the league banding, the higher the percentage appearance criteria in order to attain the necessary points. Importantly, a player from any country who has, say, played in the Belgian league and played in fewer than half of the club’s league domestic games, (and that’s not including the four other above criteria that could be applied to boost the player’s points total,) will be able to gain a GBE. Crucially, this gives a pathway for players regardless of their nationality to transition into the UK leagues by first playing in Band 1-3 leagues in Portugal, Holland, Belgium, Turkey, Russia, Mexico and Argentina. Whilst the old work permit criteria for non-EU players was significantly more focused on national team appearances, transfer fee and wage criteria, this points system is heavily weighted in favour of the strength of the player’s club and league.

d.

b.

Continental Cup Compe tition Minutes,

C o nti n enta l C u p Co m p e titi o n P r o g r es s i o n o f th e S elli n g C lu b ; an d

There are a number of avenues to reach the 15 point mark. The below examples demonstrate some of the more straight-forward potential pathways.

I purposefully only used two criteria (domestic minutes ((a) above) and league quality ((e) above)) to show the potential pathway to a GBE. There are additional criteria ((b)-(d)), as set out above, that can also be deployed.

This is in addition to points that are available to players that do not meet the auto-pass criteria. For example, a player that plays for Brazil that has played 25% of matches (although he will not receive an auto-pass) will receive 10 points (and will only require 5 more) to reach the 15 point target.

E x am ple 2

E x am pl e 3

A player playing for a Band 2 club (Portuguese Primeira Liga, Eredivise, Belgian First Division, Turkish Super Lig and the English Championship) will receive a GBE if he has:

A player playing for a Band 3 club (Russian Premier League, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Primera División of Argentina, Liga MX and the Scottish Premiership) will receive a GBE if he has:

· ·

“appeared in the squad list for the Player’s Last Club for at least one match in its domestic league competition or a Continental Competition” (10 points); and played in 40% of the available domestic league minutes will receive (5 points)

4 5

· ·

“appeared in the squad list for the Player’s Last Club for at least one match in its domestic league competition or a Continental Competition” (8 points); and played in 80% of the available domestic league minutes (7 points).

Fine Margins: If a player only manages to receive 10-14 points based on the above criteria, there is an ‘exceptional circumstances’ appeal route called the Exceptions Panel, though that route will not be possible after the winter 20/21 transfer window.

The Youth Route: The above pathway also gives a route for under 21 year olds to gain a GBE if they have achieved 10-14 points and also attain 15+ points based on supplemental youth player criteria contained in the regulations. In addition, the FA were keen to stress that only three under 21 players can be signed by EPL clubs in the upcoming January window with an overall cap of six per season. Lastly, as has been well publicised, EPL and EFL clubs will now not be able to take advantage of the FIFA exception for transferring 16 and 17 year olds as I previously wrote about here.

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fo o t b a l l e r s

F

l i fe

c o n s u l t a n cy

Footballers life C o n s u lt a n c y ootballers’ Life Consultancy supports professional players, clubs and executives at all levels across Europe.

Utilising our industry-leading European network, particularly across the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium we are able to offer support with the transfer of player’s, staff and general introductions in a highly professional manner.

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

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

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

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a d v i c e

Controlling the commercial and financial impact on sports of

COVID-19

By Mohit Pasricha, Head of Sports & Entertainment at Mackrell.Solicitors.

No aspect of life has been unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, from healthcare through to socialising, every part of a person’s life has been touched.

The sports industry is no different and was an early victim of this virulent virus, which caused the closure of many sporting venues and saw the postponement of football leagues, motorsports races and many other competitive events. Some sports had no choice to adapt - the Premier League, for example, introduced nonstop fixtures, artificial crowd noises, and online fan zones to bring consumers closer to a sport they had sorely missed since early March.

Nevertheless, the inevitable commercial impact of the coronavirus on the sports industry has

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become very apparent, with organisations already concerned about their significant wage bills and the loss of income from advertising, broadcasting and endorsements.

In fact, estimates suggest that global sports sponsorship revenues have already fallen by £14.1 billion this year.

Sky Sports also reported that nearly 80 per cent of customers paused their Sky Sports’ subscriptions due to the outbreak.

The impact of the coronavirus continues to be felt by various stakeholders in sport, such as: Leagues/Teams G ov e r ning B odi e s A r e n a , St a d i u m , a n d V e n u e O p e r a t o r s A t h l e t e s / En t e r t ain e r s Sponsors B r oadca s t e r s / M e dia Consumers/Fans

The cancellation of sporting events as a precaution against furthering the spread of coronavirus is, therefore, likely to lead to several legal challenges in the coming months as businesses involved in the sports industries attempt to recover some of the income they may have lost and look to see how they can rebuild and recover post-lockdown.

An important element in this period is likely to be the review of existing contracts and enforcement of existing contracts that could not be fulfilled due to the pandemic.

A key legal concept that organisations need to understand is force majeure and frustration, as they are likely to be key to any challenges they bring and could form an essential part of their contractual agreements in future.

Force majeure clauses often identify acts, events, and circumstances beyond the control of parties to a contract that, if realised will operate to excuse a party or parties to a contract from the performance of their obligations. Not all clauses are clearly defined and many may not cover the current pandemic and so should be challenged.

Where no specific force majeure clause exists in a contract, a party may attempt to use the law of contractual frustration. If a contract is found to be frustrated it brings a contract to an end and monies that have already been paid from one party to another may be returned subject to certain criteria being met.

Thousands of individuals and businesses operating in the sports industry have found that agreements and contracts they had are either no longer enforceable, or are at risk of being breached due to the current crisis.

Whether it is a supplier agreement, insurance policy or even travel arrangements that have been affected by this pandemic, businesses may have the ability to take action and recover some of the costs that they feel are owed to them.

Already test cases are beginning to be launched in certain sectors, such as insurance, which may challenge accepted norms of contractual agreements.

For some, the impact of COVID-19 may be too great and some clubs may inevitably face bankruptcy in the coming years due to reduced revenues from ticket sales, advertising and endorsements.

Although many sports are now active again, albeit behind closed doors or at a reduced capacity, several months without any income cannot be sustainable for many without the support of investors or supporting bodies and despite Government indications there is no guarantee that fans will be returning to venues in the same numbers as they did previously just yet.

Effective planning for any business will be vitally important, which is why all parties should seek legal advice at this time.

To find out how we can assist you through these testing times, please contact Mohit Pasricha by calling +44 (0) 207 240 0521 or emailing mohit.pasricha@mackrell.com

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a d v i c e

Real Madrid and Barcelona neck-and-neck as world’s most valuable football brands in the face of COVID-19 Real Madrid remain world’s most valuable football brand, but Barcelona narrow the gap to just €6 million COVID-19 causes total brand value of top 50 clubs to decrease for the first time in 6 years – €751 million or 3.7% is knocked off English clubs dominate the ranking with six brands in top 10 and 19 in top 50 Liverpool inches two spots up into 4th place, following historic Premier League win Bundesliga’s 1. FC Köln is this year’s fastest-growing brand, followed

by Leicester City and RB Leipzig – all recording over 40% growth Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium takes top spot in Buro Happold’s Venue Performance Rating

R

eal Madrid remain the most valuable football club brand in the world for 2020, according to the latest edition of the Brand Finance Football Annual. Boosted by winning the LaLiga title for the first time since 2017, the club retained its position at the top of the table in the football industry, but against a backdrop of economic and social disruption, caused primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, Real Madrid’s brand value has declined by 14% to €1,419 million.

Real Madrid’s disappointing on-pitch performance prior to 2019-20, which saw an earlier-than-normal exit from the UEFA Champions League in 2018-19 and a second successive season adrift of LaLiga champions Barcelona, eroded the club’s dominance of the Brand Finance ranking. The situation was exacerbated by COVID-19, along with a lack of stability around the management of the team. Barcelona, Real’s fierce rivals, are just €6 million behind Real with a brand value of €1,413 million, supported by strong and diverse revenue generation and continued domestic performance in Spain.

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See the preview or purchase the Brand Finance Football Annual 2020 here

of brand value

€751 million

COVID-19 knocks off

Real Madrid is not the only club to see a drop in brand value this year. COVID-19 has caused the total value of the top 50 football brands to decrease for the first time in 6 years.

Through its effect on the three main revenue streams – Matchday, Broadcasting, and Commercial – €751 million or 3.7% has been knocked off the cumulative brand value of the world’s top 50 most valuable football clubs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged professional football worldwide and across all levels. After the enforced break of around three months, most leagues resumed with a behindclosed-doors format that excluded spectators.

Matchday income for the 501 games remaining in the big 5 leagues dropped to zero, but it is often the smaller clubs and leagues which are more reliant on this revenue stream – in Scotland it makes up 43% of total revenue, compared to only 13% in the Premier League. Broadcasting contracts also took a hit and Premier League clubs were required to repay over £330m to domestic broadcasters (22% of the annual total).

There have been some positive signs, as Southampton vs Manchester City on BBC broke the Premier League TV audience record with 5.7 million viewers, but the longer-term damage to the game’s economic structure has yet to be revealed.

Richard Haigh, Managing Director of Brand Finance, commented: “Top-level football has been confronted with the largest existential threat since the Second World War. Loss of income, coupled with health concerns about mass gatherings, have raised question marks about the future of the industry and the financial resilience of clubs across all levels. The full damage of the COVID-19 crisis has yet to unfold and it is not inconceivable there will be casualties in the form of club bankruptcies and changes in ownership.”

Despite the huge implications of COVID-19 for football clubs and their financial results, the majority of the brand value is secured by the clubs’ long-term future – provided they can survive the initial shock. For example, only 21% of Real Madrid’s brand value is delivered by the next five years’ financial results.

Premier power Real Madrid and Barcelona are followed by a cluster of English Premier League clubs in the Brand Finance Football Annual 2020 ranking, with Manchester United in 3rd position after their brand value fell by 11% to €1,314 million. Liverpool, who won their first league title since 1990 in runaway style, are in 4th spot jumping above Manchester City in terms of brand value, rising from €1,191 million in 2019 to €1,262 million, a 6% increase. Chelsea dropped one place in the table to 8th after their value fell for the fourth consecutive year to €949 million. This was arguably due to the club being absent from the UEFA Champions League and also suffering a transfer ban after being charged with breaking Financial Fair Play Regulations.

Of the Premier League’s top six clubs, only Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, the UEFA Champions League finalists in 2018-19, saw their values increase. Tottenham, now playing at their stateof-the-art stadium, enjoyed a 3% improvement in their brand value to €784 million, with the promise of further growth as they embarked on their first full season at their new home in 2019-20.

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a d v i c e

Healthy attendances and high levels of broadcasting revenue earlier in the season had a positive effect on other Premier League clubs. Leicester City’s brand value is up by 44% to €333 million, while Chineseowned Wolverhampton Wanderers, with their biggest crowds in 50 years are 30% higher at €242 million.

Conversely, some Premier League clubs have experienced a sizeable drop in their brand value, such as Bournemouth (-31%), Watford (-21%), and West Ham United (-18%). One of the biggest fallers is Arsenal, who have lost 19% and are seeing their place in the top 10 in some jeopardy, finishing outside the Premier League top 6 for the first time in 25 years. After going through a period of discontent during the latter years of the Arsene Wenger era, Arsenal have struggled to regain their position as a Champions League club, which has started to be reflected in their revenues and bottom line.

Continued dominance in Germany, France, and Italy Bayern Munich, who remain Germany’s footballing powerhouse, are the 6th most valuable club. Bayern, one of the most proficient clubs in the world at generating commercial income, now has a brand value of €1,056 million, 20% lower than a year ago.

Despite the drop, Bayern are the clear leader among ten German clubs in the top 50 and their brand value is more than double their nearest challengers, Borussia Dortmund (down 9% to €487 million). While most Bundesliga clubs’ value is lower this year, 1. FC Köln is bucking the trend to become the fastest growing in the whole top 50 (+47%), followed closely by RB Leipzig (+43%). Köln are now reaping the benefits of being back in German’s top-flight and Leipzig are continuing their growth trajectory and gaining a reputation for player development.

Bayern’s dominance in Germany is matched by Paris Saint-Germain in France, although European success

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still eludes the club backed by Qatar Sports Investments. At €967 million and ranked 7th overall, PSG’s brand value, like their playing budget and transfer market capability, is substantially higher than their Ligue 1 opponents.

Lyon, the next highest-placed French club in 30th spot, has a brand value that is less than one-fifth of the PSG total. The third French club to make the list is Marseille, ranked 38th.

Juventus, Italy’s leading club, remain outside the top 10, but the margin between 11th and 10th has reduced by over €100 million. At the same time, the gap between Juventus and the 12th club, Borussia Dortmund, has increased by more than €100 million.

Juve’s domestic rivals are not closing in on them either. Inter Milan, the second highest placed Serie A club, failed to grow and AC Milan’s ongoing lacklustre performance is contributing to a 35% loss in their brand value.

The Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and Serie A do not have the same level of global reach of the Premier League and LaLiga, as confirmed in Brand Finance research among football fans in the US and China, two fast-emerging nations in the sport. While the Premier League and LaLiga are watched in both countries, the Bundesliga has a growing following in China, but is substantially behind both English and Spanish football. Serie A and Ligue 1 have a lot of ground to make up in building their global franchises.

Unsurprisingly, the top five leagues dominate the brand rankings with only four clubs in the top 50 from a league other than England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The highest-placed club from outside that group is the Netherlands’ Ajax (27th), followed by Portugal’s Benfica (46th), Celtic of Scotland (48th), and Russia’s Zenit St. Petersburg (49th).

Resilient brand strength Aside from calculating overall brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance. Along with the level of revenues, brand strength is a crucial driver of brand value.

Despite the economic backdrop, club brand strengths have remained robust, with half of the top 50 growing in the past year. Real Madrid continue to have the strongest brand with a rating of 94.9 and their Spanish rivals Barca are in second position with 93.6 – both slightly down on 2019. Liverpool move above Premier stablemates Manchester United to become the strongest Premier League brand with a rating of 93.2. Valencia and 1.FC Köln, with increases of +10.5 and +8.3 points respectively, recorded the highest rates of growth.

Enterprise values and stadia performance Having retained their place as the most valuable and strongest brand in football, Real Madrid have also retained the top spot for the most valuable business in the industry, with an enterprise value of €4,198 million. A notable improvement in enterprise value is that of Tottenham Hotspur who climbed to 9th in the ranking with a value of €2,114 million off the back of posting record breaking profits largely as a result of a strong Champions League run in 2019 and increased gate receipts from the new stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur have also risen from 4th to be this year’s title winners for stadium performance, according to Buro Happold’s Venue Performance Rating system. Major factors in this success were a number of experiential and revenue-generating features – such as a Tunnel Club, Sky Lounge, micro-brewery, 360-degree concourses, and safe-standing capability, among others.

Last year’s winner, Real Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, slips to 5th, primarily because it scores so poorly with regard to the aforementioned features, and this is clearly a reason why the stadium is undergoing renovation.

Nonetheless, 5th is still a huge achievement, and is attained by strong performances in several areas – such as metrics corresponding to acoustics, compactness, and location.

Andy Pottinger, Director at Buro Happold, commented: “Buro Happold launched the Venue Performance Rating system last year when it appeared in the Brand Finance Football Annual 2019, and it is now used again as part of the brand assessment for the largest 50 clubs in Europe. The aim has always been to introduce ‘stadium science’, inspired by how ‘sports science’ has transformed the way in which clubs appraise players.”

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HOW

C H A M P I O N S LE AGUE C LUB S M A K E THEIR MONE Y The U EFA C hampions League F inancial D ist ribution Model

By Alex Harvey and Daniel Geey

T

he brilliant Swiss Ramble has published an excellent, detailed analysis of the UEFA Champions League distribution model. We would strongly recommend reading the twitter thread in full, which you can find here. As we have done with previous Swiss Ramble threads, we thought it would be helpful to set out some of the key highlights from the analysis, along with some comments of our own.

UE FA as the d i st ributor As the governing body of European Football, UEFA is responsible for exploiting the commercial rights in the Champions League, the Europa League and the Super Cup. UEFA earns significant sums through collectively selling broadcasting rights[1], commercial rights and tickets/hospitality, and will then distribute those sums back to the participating teams using a complex financial distribution model. It is that distribution model which we will seek to unpick in this blog.

Th e C h a m p i o n s Leagu e “ P ot ” UEFA’s gross commercial revenue from the 2019/20 season is estimated to be around €3.25bn. Of that, €1.95bn will be distributed to clubs participation in the Champions League, with the remainder being used for administrative costs, solidarity payments and clubs participating in other UEFA competitions such as the Europa League.

15% of the Champions League pot is distributed in accordance with the proportional value of each TV market represented by clubs taking part in the Champions League. Half of the amount representing the value of each market will be split among the clubs based on their performance in the previous domestic season. The other half will be paid in proportion to the number of matches played by each club in the current Champions League competition.

Swiss Ramble calculates that, in relation to the first half of the Market Pool only (ie. based on performances in the 18/19 domestic season), Man City have the highest

Market Pool revenue of all clubs with €14m, followed closely by Liverpool with €10m; a reflection of the large sums that BT Sport pay for the broadcasting rights in the UK.

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H ighest Ea rne r s v Lowe st Ea rner s The highest earners after this year’s group stage are Bayern Munich, who have already amassed a sizeable €82m. Slavia Prague are the lowest earners with a more modest €18m. So how are those numbers broken down?

Sw iss Ramble : K e y S tati st i c s Following the completion of this season’s group stage, Swiss Ramble crunched the numbers and unearthed some fascinating findings:

E nglish C lubs Manchester City have the highest 2019/20 Champions League revenue to date amongst the English clubs with €78m. Close behind are Liverpool (€76m) and Chelsea (€73m), with Tottenham lagging behind on €58m.

The first point to remember is that both teams receive €15.25m as a participation fee simply for reaching the group stage.

As stated above, Bayern Munich have earned an impressive €27m through performance bonuses. They are also third in the UEFA co-efficient behind only Real Madrid and Barcelona, earning them a further €33m, and have received €6m from the first half of the TV Market Pool.

Slavia Prague, by contrast, earned only €2m in performance bonuses after a group stage campaign which saw them lose four games and draw two. They are also the lowest-ranked team in the UEFA co-efficient, earning them €1.1m. Note, however, that information on their TV Market Pool earnings is not currently available.

Man City benefitted from significant performance bonuses totalling €23.2m after a group-stage which included four wins and two draws. As mentioned above, they have also earned a healthy €14m from the first half of the TV Market Pool due to their Premier League triumph last season.

In contrast, Tottenham had the least successful record of English clubs in the group stage (earning €19.3m), the lowest UEFA coefficient based on the last 10 years (earning €19.9m) and the smallest TV Market Pool after their 4th place finish in 2018/19 (earning €3.5m).

Th e Atalanta Cas e S t u dy Atalanta are a fascinating case study.

They have successfully qualified for the round of 16 after progressing through Group C ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb. Despite this, their total revenue after the group stage is only €40m; half that of fellow Italian club Juventus (€80m), and less than five other clubs who actually failed to progress past the group stage (Benfica €51m, Ajax €46m, Shakhtar Donetsk €44m, Inter €41m and Zenit €41m).

The comparison with Inter is telling.

Despite outperforming Inter in the performance bonuses (€16.3m v €6.8m) and the TV Market Pool (€5m v €2.5m), Atalanta have suffered due to their low UEFA co-efficient ranking (earning them only €3.3m) in comparison to Inter (€16.6m). It is clear that the distribution model, which includes a 30% pool based on the UEFA co-efficient ranking, advantages the traditionally larger clubs against upand-coming teams such as Atalanta.

[1] UEFA’s 2017/18 Financial Report showed that 81% of its revenue came from broadcasting rights

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SHOULD PLAYERS PAY THEIR OWN AGENTS…?

IT WOULD COST PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS

£166M

A YEAR!

I’ve teamed up with top football tax adviser Rhys Linnell to have a look at agents fees: are they out of control, what are the suggested solutions and would they work?

INTRODUCTION Between 2 February 2018 and 31 January 2019, Liverpool paid out almost £43.7m in fees to agents and intermediaries, according to figures provided by the English FA. In total, the 20 Premier League clubs spent over £260m during that same period. Agents are unlikely to receive much sympathy from fans for the job they do, but in our experience they are very much a necessity for clubs and players alike, and many provide the skill set necessary to get a deal over the line.

Nonetheless, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin was recently at pains to stress that agents’ fees had reached astronomical levels. Čeferin reported that agents often try to dictate terms by telling buying clubs, ‘Look, you will pay me 50% of the transfer or the player goes somewhere else.’ UEFA calculated that more than €3bn has been paid to agents between 2013 and 2017, and suggested a cap on agents’ fees. This recommendation was previously floated by FIFA and draft regulations are soon to be put in place.

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COMMISSION CAP As recently as October 2019, the FIFA Council endorsed wide ranging measures including the establishment of a cap on agents’ commissions. Specifically, 10% of the transfer fee for agents of selling clubs, 3% of the player’s remuneration for player agents and 3% of the player’s remuneration for agents of buying clubs (which could cumulatively be 6% if acting for player and buying club). It remains to be seen whether restricting what agents can earn is legal. Court challenges to what agents would effectively deem price fixing are likely in the absence of further flexibility or movement from FIFA on their cap proposal.

HOW ARE PLAYER A G E NT S PA I D ?

Now, it may sound simple enough to suggest that an agent gets a commission of 5% – or, if they are lucky, 10%. The difficult part to explain is usually who pays the agent. You’d think it would be the player, right? Wrong. The majority of Premier League and top-end Football League transfers involve the buying club paying the agent. Details can vary. A number of different structures are set out below. Brace yourself, it involves tax!

Many will continue to believe that the commissions agents receive should be capped or limited. Others, take a contrary view: regulating the commission for agents in the football business but not for the agents of actors or musicians seems artificial and unrealistic. Ultimately, it is up to those who pay the agents (the club and/or the player) to decide if they are getting value for money.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin

P layer pays In very limited circumstances when dealing with Premier League players, a player may pay his agent for finalising a transfer. Under a player’s representation contract with this agent, as set out above, the player may be obliged to pay his agent 5%, say, of his gross basic wage.

This doesn’t happen too often in practice.

ANOTHER WAY? Critics would argue that players don’t know whether they are getting value for money as they can be in the dark when it comes to the amount paid to their intermediaries in negotiating deals. The best intermediaries will set out in straightforward language how much they are being paid and what the player’s tax obligations will be (as is set out below).

At the time of writing, there were discussions about whether the Premier League should simplify things, such that a player pays their agent the commission due (and is therefore aware of the amount his agent is receiving). This would be a radical change.

Example 1: A player is paid £2m per year.

The agent receives £100,000 (5%) from the player per year in one annual payment.

It’s important to note that in the UK this is an absolute cost to the player, i.e. players paying their agents a percentage of their employment income, or a fee for negotiating their employment contract, is not tax deductible for the player.

This is different to the treatment of individual sportspeople, or indeed players’ commercial deals (where an agent will often take a percentage/ commission), where fees paid to an agent are tax deductible. Without going into too much tax detail, this is because deductions from employed income need to be ‘necessary’, where for self-employed income, they do not.

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Club pays as part of the transfer arrangement In practice, even if the player is required to pay his agent as set out in their representation contract, the player’s agent can negotiate that the club pays the agent on the player’s behalf. This benefit means the player doesn’t need to pay his agent. However, paying an amount on a player’s behalf is classed as a benefit in kind by the tax authorities and the player will pay tax on the payment by the club to the agent.

Example 2: A player is paid £2m per year.

The agent receives £100,000 (5%) from the club paid on the player’s behalf as a benefit to the player.

The player would pay £45,000 of tax on the benefit the club has provided them with (i.e. 45% tax on effective additional income of £100,000). This is included on a player’s tax return and players should therefore be aware at this stage of the amounts paid to their agent on their behalf.

When players aren’t aware of the amount their agent has been paid, their tax return can sometimes produce a nasty shock. Having said that, this isn’t always the case as those at clubs with proactive payroll departments may request for this additional tax to be deducted from the player’s monthly salary and paid through their payroll. If not the club, then a specialist accountant aware of the agents fees payable may have requested such a payroll deduction on behalf of their client.

Some of the big players (those with good lawyers and accountants at least and in a strong bargaining position…) have started to negotiate a loyalty bonus payable in January that covers the tax they have to pay on their agent’s fees for the previous tax year. Tax is obviously also payable on this bonus, so the club need to gross up the payment to give the player the net amount he needs to settle his tax bill.

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Club pays because the agent is acting for them Sometimes the buying club will pay the player’s agent to act on its behalf during the transfer. You may think this is a conflict of interest – and you’d be right. In such a scenario, the player has to agree that his agent can work for both sides.

Example 3: A player is paid £2m per year. The agent will be paid for the work he does for the club and for the work he does for the player. The agent may then receive £50,000 (2.5%) from the club for the work done on their behalf and £50,000 (2.5%) from the club, as a benefit to the player, for the work done on the player’s behalf.

Without getting too complicated, many deals are variations of Example 3. In Example 2, the player is required to pay tax on the £100,000 paid by the club on his behalf. In Example 3, the player will be paying tax only on £50,000 for the portion of the work done on his behalf – thus reducing his tax bill. To justify his £50,000 fee, the agent will have to demonstrate that he did work on behalf of the club, and this is usually set out in a separate representation contract between the player, the club and the agent.

SO, WHAT IF PLAYERS

PAID THEIR AGENTS? In research carried out by Saffery Champness, a change in agent fees rules would cost PL clubs an additional £166m a year. This figure is based on agents fees of £260.6m between February 2018 and January 2019.

It is foreseen that the players wouldn’t be the ones that are out of pocket.

If a player is going to have to pay money to their agent, they will want additional funds (presumably via the club) to allow them to do so.

In practice this would be for the club to pay the player additional salary (which they would be taxed on) and the player to then make the onward commission payment from their own net income to the agent.

The primary reason that such player payments are unlikely to be introduced is that dual representation appears

here to stay (as evidenced by FIFA’s acceptance in their proposed commission caps above). There is tax leakage as a result. There is an additional national insurance cost for players and clubs alike on the additional salary and a loss of VAT relief for the club when they aren’t paying the intermediary directly.

Whilst dual representation is permitted, it makes sense for one party to settle the entirety of the agent’s fees. The way that agents are paid is therefore unlikely to change.

There is one other, very simple, reason that clubs (rather than players) pay agents: to make sure they get paid!

Without stereotyping too much, ensuring funds are in place and instructing the bank to make a payment are activities typically performed better by a PL club finance department than a PL player.

CON

CLUSION It’s pretty clear that the way that agents/intermediaries are paid at present is rather complicated. Many believe that the way athletes, say, in the US pay their agents directly is the more straight forward model.

However, the current club and player incentives are somewhat misaligned with a combination of: agents commission not being a deductible expense for players; and clubs presumably preferring to pay the player’s agent as a benefit to the player rather than provide more in gross salary to the player.

The more complicated structures, as set out above, will likely remain set in stone until some type of football or HMRC intervention. Whilst such an approach is unlikely to change anytime soon, there is big regulatory conflict on the horizon with likely challenge of FIFA’s commission cap. These authors wouldn’t be surprised if this, if not marketed as such, is FIFA’s opening negotiation offer to the various agency representation groups with the ultimate aim of agreeing a capped compromise.

FIFA negotiating with the master negotiators promises to make for an interesting next few months.

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World’s Top Five Football Agencies Hit in Market Value of Players

€4.2bn

Today, the most successful professional athletes stand beside hedge fund managers and some of the world’s wealthiest people, with their contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros. According to data gathered by SafeBettingSites.com, the world’s five leading football agencies hit €4.2bn in the market value of their players.

With €1.09bn value or one-quarter of that amount, the UK multi-national, full-service sports consultancy, Stellar Football Ltd, ranked as the leading agency.

Leading UK Agencies to Touch €2bn Market Value Over the last two decades, Stellar Group has grown into one of the biggest and most successful sports management companies globally. Managing the careers of 499 professional players in the United Kingdom and abroad, Stellar are the agents behind some of the biggest transfers in football history, including Gareth Bale's €100.8 million worth transfer to Real Madrid.

With 428 players worth a total of €862.3 million, Wasserman ranked as the second-leading sports agency on this list, revealed TranseferMarkt data. Some of the high-profile stars signed to the agency include Borussia Dortmund's Raphaël Guerreiro and Federico Valverde of Real Madrid. However, besides for football players, the US-based media conglomerate negotiates marketing and promotion contracts for NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL athletes, as well as golfers.

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A Portuguese football agency Gestifute ranked third on this list. As of July 2020, a total of 119 football players signed to Gestifute had a combined market value of over €796 million.

Led by super-agent Jorge Mendes, the agency represents some of the sport’s biggest names, including five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and Real Madrid’s James Rodríguez.

Statistics show Carmine “Mino” Raiola ranked as the fourth-largest football agent in the world, with nearly €747 million in the combined market value of his 76 players. The Dutch football agent represents many well-known players, including Zlatan Ibrahimović and Paul Pogba.

Lian Sports ranked as the fifth-leading sports agency on this list, with €645 million in contract value under management. The agency represents some of the top talents in Italy’s Serie A, including Miralem Pjanic and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Analyzed by geography, statistics show that UK agencies top the list of ten most-successful football agencies in the world, managing nearly €2bn worth contracts. German and the US agencies follow, with €965 million and €862 million worth contracts, respectively.

Five Leading Players Worth

€366

Million

The TransferMarkt data also revealed that the five leading players under the management of the top five agencies hit €366 million market value as of July. Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva heads the list of Gestifute players, with €80 million in market value. Paul Pogba, tops the list of Mino Raiola’s players with the identic market value.

Bayern Munich left-winger, Leroy Sané, represents the leading name under the management of Lian sports, with also €80 million in market value.

Central midfield player of Atlético Madrid, Saúl Ñíguez, ranked fourth on this list. Statistics indicate the football player under the management of Stellar Football hit €72 million market value as of this month. Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde ranked fifth with €54 million in market value, the most valuable player under Wasserman’s management.

Read the full story here: https://www.safebettingsites. com/blog/2020/07/22/worlds-top-five-footballagencies-hit-e4-2bn-in-market-value-of-players/

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The Premier League is upon us again and teams haven’t held back when it comes to signing players. The five biggest deals done to date include:

Nathan Aké

Kai Havertz

(Bournemouth to Manchester City)

(Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea)

£41 m

£71 m

Donny van de Beek

Timo Werner

(Ajax to Manchester United)

(RB Leipzig to Chelsea)

£40 m

£45 m

Ben Chilwell

(Leicester to Chelsea)

£48 m

While these players will earn millions every year, their earnings don’t stop when they leave the pitch - many have well-established online presences that generate fortunes.

So which of these star signings have the biggest following online, and who are the biggest earners?

Compare.bet set to find out, using Instagram and Influencer

R E S U LT S :

Marketing Hub’s Sponsored Post Calculator.

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Player

Followers

Potential Earnings per Instagram Post (£)

Timo Werner

1,700,000

£3,765.30

Donny van de Beek

1,600,000

£3,480.87

Kai Havertz

1,400,000

£3,167.09

Nathan Aké

803,000

£2,541.99

Ben Chilwell

482,000

£1,929.00

Results: Which team is the most followed and highest earning?

This is the Most Insta-Followed Squad in the Premier League, and how Much they Earn!

On top of earnings on the pitch, Liverpool F.C. could rake in a whopping £269,961.82 from players’ Instagram accounts Manchester United are the most followed Premier League team, with a total from all players equalling 117,297,400 While the most followed, United players are the second highest estimated earners on social media, raking in £259,405.13 Arsenal trail in third place, with 87,943,099 Instagram followers and estimated total earnings from players at £200,614.69

Results show that Liverpool are the highest earning Premier League team on Instagram, with total potential earnings of £269,961.82 per post. Star players Mohamed Salah, van Dijk and Alisson are the main contributors to the current champions’ Insta-fame which fuels their social media influence. Liverpool’s squad are the second most followed team in the league too, with 107,347,000 followers.

Manchester United’s squad are the mostfollowed team (117,297,400) and the second highest online earners – their estimated potential earnings stand at £259,405.13 collectively per post. Probably the most famous team in the world, their wealth of followers and potential royalties reflect this.

In third place are Arsenal, with the reputation of Özil, David Luiz and Aubameyang being big contributors. The Gunners boast an impressive combined following of almost 88 million (87,943,099), and their social media presence could make them a surplus of £200,614.69 for all players’ posts.

Some of the biggest names in football earn millions every year, but their earnings don’t stop when they leave the pitch – many players have wellestablished online presences that earn them a fortune.

But which Premier League team has racked up the biggest following online, and who are the biggest earners?

Compare.bet set to find out!

Considering all players listed under each Premier League team, the follower counts were collated and totalled to find the most Insta-followed team.

Compare.bet then used Influencer Marketing Hub’s Sponsored Post Calculator to reveal how much each player could earn per post, tallying them up to find the highest earning team collectively.

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a d v i c e

Teams in fourth, fifth and sixth include: Manchester City (75,292,500 followers) – potential collective earnings of £170,479.26 per post Chelsea (49,864,200 followers) – potential collective earnings of £152,451.05 per post Everton (66,37,400 followers) – potential collective earnings of £151,272.15 per post

Who are the top earning footballers?

Compare.bet also identified the highflyers of social media in the Premier League, by listing the top 20 highest earning and followed players: Columbia superstar and newly signed Everton midfielder James Rodríguez claims first place, with a whopping 46.1 million followers and the potential to gain £99,599.52 per post on Instagram!

As what was once the most expensive signing of all time, Paul Pogba enters in second place.

His handsome following of 41.6 million gives him the chance to earn £90,007.79 per post.

In third place is Liverpool’s star striker Mohamed Salah, with 40.2 million followers. The star striker could earn up to a whopping £86,878.19 per Insta post.

Staying at Liverpool, the twentieth biggest footballer on Instagram is their keeper Alisson. It might be the Brazilian’s exceptional record or the fact that fans flooded his socials to see his recent haircut, but sporting 7.1 million of them earns him a hefty £15,339.12 per potential post.

And no footballing list would be complete without the PFA Player of the Year, Kevin De Bruyne. He places in 10th with 11.9 million followers and the potential earnings of £25,775.60.

Consult the table for the full list of top 20 players.

Methodology:

In twentieth place are Burnley. Whilst they were promoted way back in 2009, their small club reputation continues to hinder their online following and potential earnings – the squad’s social count currently stands at just 357,800 and earns them £3,301.44.

Consult the graphic above for the positions of all Premier League clubs.

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To firstly find the most Insta-followed team in the Premier League, the Instagram accounts and follower counts of each player listed under every team (according to the Premier League’s website) were collated and totalled together.

The estimated potential earnings on Instagram for each player was then calculated using Influencer Marketing Hub’s Instagram Influencer Sponsored Post Money Calculator, then totalled per team to reveal which squad has the potential to earn the most.

Finally, using the above collated data, the top 20 players across the Premier League teams were identified.

I

HEADS UP X FOOTBALL AID: FUNDRAISING FOR MENTAL HEALTH ’ve been privileged to be on the board of the fantastic Football Aid charity for over 8 years. I’ve never been prouder of the charitable collaboration we are currently undertaking with Heads Together, the mental health programme set up by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Football Aid are auctioning off tonnes of match-worn and/ or signed shirts including lots of signed shirts from the two Heads Up FA Cup finalists Arsenal and Chelsea.

I have two favours to ask. Please bid to help fundraise for this great cause and please spread the word. It may be on Whatsapp, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok. Help us amplify our message and maximise our fundraising potential.

For fans of Premier League teams, we are delighted to have shirts from:

Arsenal Aston Villa Bournemouth Burnley Chelsea Crystal Palace Everton Leicester Newcastle United Norwich City Sheffield United Southampton Watford Wolves

Over the Heads Up Weekends (8th–9th February 2020, and 15th– 16th February 2020), football came together to kick off the biggest ever conversation around mental health.

Following the Heads Up Weekend matches, teams across the Premier League and the EFL have kindly donated their match worn shirts to the Heads Up campaign in order for them to be auctioned off to raise muchneeded funds for the charity partners, Heads Together, Mind, and CALM.

The majority of the shirts have the unique ‘Heads Up’ logo on the front or the sleeve. These shirts were created for the Heads Up Weekends matches only, and are either matchworn or were issued to players for these matches. Most of the shirts are signed and will come with a copy of their letter or certificate of authenticity.

Ahead of The Heads Up FA Cup Final on 1st August, and following a football season unlike any other, Football Aid are privileged to be working with Heads Together to give fans a chance to bid for unique match worn shirts from the Heads Up Weekends. As well as bidding for a piece of history, you’ll be helping to continue the incredible work that is being done to improve and support our mental health across the country.

I hope you can find the shirt you have always dreamt of owning and framing and/or simply supporting these fantastic charities.

To find out more about the campaign, please visit www.headstogether.org.uk/Heads-Up

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Market Value of the World’s Five Most Expensive Football Players Slumps by €144 Million in 2020

T

he coronavirus disruption has had an enormous impact on the entire football eco-system, facing clubs with an unprecedented crisis, cutting down their earnings, and leading to liquidity problems.

Besides causing complex issues and dilemmas for the club owners, the COVID-19 pandemic also had a huge hit on football players' market value.

According to data presented by SafeBettingSites.com, the combined market value of the world's five most expensive football players stood at €676 million in April, a €144 million plunge since December 2019.

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Neymar’s Market Value Plunged by €32 Million The KPMG’s analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on football players’ market value revealed the combined value of all 4,183 players in ten European leagues would decrease by €6.6 bn, a 17.7% fall in the case season continues with games played behind closed doors.

The TransferMarkt data showed that Kylian Mbappé, the most expensive football player globally, witnessed a €20 million plunge in his market valuation.

In December 2019, the center-forward of Paris Saint-Germain was valued at €200 million. In the next four months, his market value dropped to $180 million.

His team-mate Neymar lost €32 million in market value amid coronavirus crisis, the second-largest market value drop in 2020. Statistics show the famous leftwinger was valued at €160 million in December 2019. By the end of April, his market value stood at €128 million, a €32 million plunge in four months.

Manchester City’s left-winger, Raheem Sterling, as the third most expensive football player in the world, also lost €32 million in market valuation, a 20% plunge in four months.

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a d v i c e

Top Three Market Value Increases in

2020

Statistics show the fourth and the fifth most valued football players globally lost €60 million in combined market valuation. In April, Liverpool’s left-winger Sadio Mané was valued at €120 million, a €30 million drop since December last year. His teammate Mohamed Salah witnessed identical financial hit, with his market valuation stumbling from €150 million to €120 million amid coronavirus crisis.

The TransferMarkt data also revealed that Real Madrid’s left-winger Eden Hazard had witnessed the most significant drop in market valuation in 2020, with his value falling from €120 million to €80 million between December and April.

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Although the coronavirus crisis caused significant market valuation drops for the world’s most expensive footballers, some players witnessed their values rise in 2020. The market value of Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies rose by €35 million since December last year, reaching €60 million in July, the most significant increase in 2020. In April, the club announced they had signed 19-year old Canadian star to a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2025.

Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland ranked second on the list of the biggest increases, with his market value rising by €27 million in 2020. Statistics show the market value of the 20-year old Norwegian player grew from €45 million in December 2019 to €72 million in April.

Right-winger of Sevilla FC, Lucas Ocampos, has witnessed his market value double and hit €50 million in July, the third-largest increase this year.

Read the full story here: https://www. safebettingsites.com/blog/2020/08/18/ market-value-of-the-worlds-five-mostexpensive-football-players-slumpsby-e144-million-in-2020/ Controlling the commercial and financial impact on sports of COVID-19

Thousands of individuals and businesses operating in the sports industry have found that agreements and contracts they had are either no longer enforceable, or are at risk of being breached due to the current crisis.

Whether it is a supplier agreement, insurance policy or even travel arrangements that have been affected by this pandemic, businesses may have the ability to take action and recover some of the costs that they feel are owed to them.

Already test cases are beginning to be launched in certain sectors, such as insurance, which may challenge accepted norms of contractual agreements.

For some, the impact of COVID-19 may be too great and some clubs may inevitably face bankruptcy in the coming years due to reduced revenues from ticket sales, advertising and endorsements.

Although many sports are now active again, albeit behind closed doors or at a reduced capacity, several months without any income cannot be sustainable for many without the support of investors or supporting bodies and despite Government indications there is no guarantee that fans will be returning to venues in the same numbers as they did previously just yet.

Effective planning for any business will be vitally important, which is why all parties should seek legal advice at this time. To find out how we can assist you through these testing times, please contact Mohit Pasricha by calling +44 (0) 207 240 0521 or emailing mohit.pasricha@mackrell.com

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Die Marad t a l k

F

OOTBALL lost a legend when Diego Maradona died in November, but the stories of his greatness on and off the pitch will live on through time.

The Argentinian’s passing aged just 60 came as a shock to the world as one of the sporting icons in history left us all.

Maradona encapsulated everything as a player and a person – balletic brilliance on the pitch, the heart of a lion who led Napoli to two unforgettable Serie A titles and effectively won the World Cup on his own in 1986.

Like other geniuses in the past, such as George Best, there was also a fallibility away from the pitch as the boy from the slums of Buenos Aries was swallowed up by superstardom, temptation and the darker side of others.

But his magic and achievements can never be erased, and tales from fellow footballers will be passed down generations to ensure the game never forgets one of the greats.

Here, major stars past and present share their memories and thoughts on Diego Armando Maradona.

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iego dona L I O N E L MESSI

“

He leaves us but does not leave, because Diego is eternal.

“I keep all the beautiful moments lived with him.

C R I S T I A N O RONALDO

“

I say goodbye to a friend and the world says goodbye to an eternal genius.

“One of the best ever. An unparalleled magician.

He leaves too soon, but leaves a legacy without limits and a void that will never be filled.

”

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G A R Y LINEKER I played for a Rest of the World side at Wembley, when I was at Barcelona, all the great players like (Michel) Platini on the pitch were all totally in awe of him.

“The first thing he did in the dressing room was sit there in just a pair of shorts, juggling his socks on his left

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ROBIN V AN PERSIE

“

As a young player I was inspired by Maradona, and that has never left me.

“He was unique as a footballer and a person.

He was extreme in every respect, with his style of play and his personality.

“When I first met him in Dubai he shouted ‘Robbie, Robbie!’ to me. He ran up

foot for about five minutes.

to me, gave me a kiss, embraced me and said how good he felt.

“Then he went out on the pitch and did something incredible, one of the most unbelievable things

“He made me feel much less

I have even seen on a football pitch.

tense. Through his interpreter he started a great conversation.

“He juggled the ball all the way out to the centre circle, when he got there, still juggling, he went ‘bang’ and

“He began with my left leg, saying: ‘Robbie, you

kicked the ball up as high as he could, then waited.

have my left leg. We both have a special left leg.’

“It came down, he went ‘bang’ and did it

“He also took hold of my left leg, and planted a kiss on it.

again. He did it 13 times and the most he ever did was walk three paces to it.

”

“All of us were sitting there saying: ‘that is impossible’.

“

T E R R Y FENWICK (Mexico 1986 opponent)

I belted him two or three times. I thought ‘that’s him done’. He was off the pitch for four and a half minutes after I whacked him once.

“I told him I didn’t want to impose, or to ask him for

”

a shirt, but said he would make me happy if I could just have a kick-about with him for 30 seconds.

“It was great. Everything went well, I pulled off a few tricks and so did he, and I got a signed shirt all the same.

DIMITAR B ER B ATO V

“

In the world of football, Maradona was God. “And when I turned round and he was warming up to come back on, I was thinking ‘what the hell have I got to do to

“I always remember the day he

stop this man?’. He was built like you wouldn’t believe. He

came to the training ground

was a pit bull and he came back for more all the time.

at Manchester United, we were doing some

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“The ball was stuck to that left foot, you couldn’t get

drills on the pitch and

it off him. I tried to intimidate him but he was always

all of a sudden someone

there, ready for more. I didn’t say two words to him

said, ‘Is that Maradona

but he was chatting to me from start to finish.

with the boss coming over?’

“That was the confidence of the man. He knew

“Everybody stopped and froze, we were

he was better than the rest. What a player.

all watching God walk towards us.

P A U L GASCOIGNE

“

At a charity game, I remember I wanted a lighter. I’d seen a little fella outside with a parka hat on, a big long cigar.

“I just went up from behind him and I just said “can I borrow you lighter please”. And he turned round and it was Diego, so I started laughing.

PELE

“So I shared a bit of a cigar with him. And we clicked then.

(On facing him for Lazio at Sevilla in 1992) “On the flight I’d had a couple of drinks.

“ ”

I lost a great friend and the world lost a legend.

There is still much to be said, but for now, may

“In the tunnel, I went to Diego, I went

God give strength to family members. One day,

“Diego, I’m tipsy”. He went: “It’s OK Gazza,

I hope we can play ball together in the sky.

so am I”. So that was OK. I went out, I beat about four players, scored a goal.

“And I looked at him and I said “beat that”. Obviously I spoke a bit of Italian because he doesn’t speak English and neither do I. So I said “beat that”. After that I think I said the wrong thing.

“He was unbelievable, magic. What a player. My icon is Bryan Robson, but round the world Diego was just a phenomenal footballer, wasn’t he.

“

”“

O S S I E ARDILES Here was Diego, on the same stage where Nelson Mandela and Ronald Regan had stood. Suddenly, one guy shouts,

C I R O FERRARA (Napoli teammate)

I respected him, I knew him as few in the world but I loved him like many fans: it was impossible not to.

“Maradona was a person good and deep, he had an overflowing humanity. Diego was close to everyone. He was a God, no one has ever been more human than him.

‘Can you do keepie-uppies with this?’, and he throws a golf ball towards us.

“Sometimes at night I could hear the roar of his Ferrari coming from his garage. Then the

“I’m thinking, ‘Oh no, he’s wearing a suit

next day when he was late for training, my

and brand new shoes, this will be difficult’.

team-mates asked ‘so Ciro, what’s he doing?’

Diego pulls his trousers up and starts keeping the ball up. Boom, boom, boom.

“I said ‘I don’t think he’s coming today’.

Easy. He then kicks it back to the guy with

But then I found him training alone, like a

his heel. It was incredible. Only Diego.

madman. He worked really hard, he was all for one and one for all. He made me win and he made me become a man.

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Eric Dier announced as ambassador for Sported Tottenham Hotspur and England defender Eric Dier has today been announced as an ambassador for Sported, the UK’s largest network of community groups supporting 500,000 young people to reach their full potential.

E

ric’s focus, determination and talent make him an ideal role model for young people across the UK. He understands that being involved with a local community group is about so much more than sport – it is about helping young people build self-esteem, develop healthy relationships with their families and peers and feel a sense of self-worth. As an ambassador, Eric will support and promote Sported’s work in a private as well as public capacity.

This announcement comes as Sported announces its selection as one of the three charities for the Times and Sunday Times 2020 Christmas Appeal.

Sported believes that being part of the appeal will help mobilise public support for community sports groups up and down the country who use sport to create change. The focus will be on harnessing the community spirit fostered through the pandemic to boost local volunteering and generate the funds needed to help communities respond to the impact of Covid-19 and sustainably rebuild.

Sported’s network consists of 2,600 community sports groups across the UK representing 100 different sports, from parkour to paddle-boarding, boxing to baseball and kabaddi to kayaking.These groups tackle the most serious social issues affecting communities including youth violence, discrimination and poverty. Sported helps empower the local heroes running these groups by providing much needed professional expertise, resources and operational support, free of charge, to help their group survive and thrive.

One of the groups Sported works with is HR Sports Academy, which Eric recently visited. HR Sports Academy delivers quality sports sessions, sports education, and community development programmes to schools and disadvantaged communities in London. It was set up by Mickela RamsayHall, who is passionate about using sport as a catalyst for positive youth development and success. The sudden death of her sister, the rise in youth gun and knife crime and cuts to youth services motivated Mickela to reduce conflict in and around Haringey and help young people realise their potential.

Sported has been working with HR Sports Academy to help this community group grow and develop in a sustainable way and reach even more young people. This support, which is helping reinforce the Academy’s long-term future and significant impact on the local community, comes in the form of advice and guidance on topics such as governance, resourcing, fundraising and funding applications. HR Sports Academy also participated in a Sported programme to provide training to community groups on the use of sport and physical activity as a means of reducing youth violence.

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During his visit, Eric met with coaches, young leaders and young people who regularly benefit from HR Academy’s support and heard first-hand about the impact that it is having on their life.

One of these young people was Suraya, who has experienced many challenges in her life. She has been to three different schools, been homeschooled and ran away from home more than once.

Her involvement as a participant at HR Sports Academy has been life changing. The provisions have helped her to be surrounded by positive role models, kept her off the streets and engaged in productive activities. She has gained many skills and certificates volunteering as a young leader.

The past year she has absolutely thrived.

Suraya said:“Being involved with HR Sports Academy has made a huge difference to my life. It’s not only helped me become more focused at school but I’ve also developed so many new skills that I know will help me in the future. I know I’ll continue to face challenges life, but thanks to what I’ve learnt at HR Academy and the support I’m getting from them, I feel like I can overcome anything!”

“ ”

I’m really excited to be joining Sported as an ambassador.

Eric Dier said:“I’m really excited to be joining Sported as an ambassador. I know how much getting involved in sports can help young people and I’m looking forward to visiting as many of the sports groups as I can and witness for myself how much of a difference they are making to communities across the UK. It is a privilege to take on this role.

“At HR Sports Academy it was fantastic to see how much enjoyment the young people clearly get from their involvement in these activities, but far more important to know the deeper difference it’s making in their lives. I’m humbled by the work of the group leaders who commit so much to supporting these young people with the challenges they face.”

Nicola Walker, CEO of Sported adds:“We’re thrilled to have Eric join the Sported family. Judging by the reaction of all the young people during his visit to HR Sports Academy, he is a great role model for young people. We’re looking forward to working with him closely and continuing to make a real difference to young people’s lives.

“HR Sports Academy are a wonderful example of the way in which sport can be used to engage young people and provide them with routes to more positive futures. There are countless number of similar stories across the UK which reflect the critical role sport plays in the lives of young people. Our work at Sported is to ensure that groups like HR Sports Academy can grow their support for young people during these difficult times.”

It has never been a harder time to be a young person growing up in the UK. One in 4 children live in poverty; recorded knife crime has more than doubled in the past 5 years, 80% of young people note their mental health has worsened in recent months and youth unemployment is at an all-time high. In addition, 750 youth centres and more than 4,500 youth workers have been lost over the last 10 years and spending on youth services in England and Wales has been cut by 70% in real terms.

Sported’s network is continuing to make a difference to hundreds of thousands of young people’s lives across the country.

For more information on The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal please visit www.thetimes.co.uk/christmasappeal.

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RICE D

ECLAN RICE says the talent England possess means the country have no choice but to target winning an international tournament in the next two years.

Rice admits the quality in the Three Lions squad is frightening as Gareth Southgate blends a mix of proven stars with youngsters with huge potential.

And with the European Championship next summer being followed by a World Cup a year later, the West Ham star knows there is no better chance of winning a major trophy.

The 21-year-old said: “If you're looking at the players that are in the squad now, the players who can be picked at any time, and the younger players coming through I'd be silly not to say there's a special crop of players here.

“We've had two semi-finals, the nation's league and the World Cup.he next level now is to win something and I think that crop of players that we've got coming in is a great opportunity.

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“In that last squad I said to Eric Dyer I've never seen finishing like Harry Kane in my life. I've never seen it.

“We done a finishing drill and he finished every single ball from outside the D, with power precision on top of that. I know how good he is but witnessing it in training, you just see.

“It's so sick to watch that as a football person, as well, as a fan as well as a player. To watch him just doing that you just have to applaud it.”

Speaking on the Super 6 podcast he added: “Looking back to my first session, I knew he was sick, was Rashford.

“This guy, I've never seen someone move so quickly with a football at his feet, it's lightning speed, I can't even explain it.

“If he's running at you 1v1 it's curtains - game over. If he wants to really go at you and hurt you, he will.

“Sancho, when training I'm training with Sanch. His feet, I've never seen anything like it.

“When he’s taking on players 1v1 and he’s standing you up, he’s got you skating on ice. You don’t know whether he’s going left you don’t know whether he’s going right.

“As a youngster myself, but him being younger than me, his confidence is unbelievable, he’s such a good player.

“Sterling, small-sided games, if he’s not on your team you’ve basically lost. He’s that sharp. Just running, short, sharp so strong as well.

“Honestly, the players there are so good. There’s not one, all of them are all ridiculous.

The squad’s so good.

“You notice that when you go away like the youngsters that were away on the last trip like me, Bukayo Saka who’s unbelievable, for a youngster he is ridiculous. So good.

“Jude Bellingham, only 17 years old, you got Phil Foden, obviously me, Mason Mount, Reece James, Trent.

“There’s so many you can name that England have for me as a footballer, but as a fan as well, now’s the chance.

“We need to take it with both hands and win something 100%.

“I think that the group of players that we’ve got, even with the experienced players like Kane, Dyer, Henderson, Kyle Walker, Pickford in goal, Sterling.

“There’s so many that have been around it for a while now. I think they’re sensing it as well.

“Now’s a great chance that you know we can now really push on as a nation and and start winning things.”

“

I think that crop of players that we’ve got coming in is a great opportunity

”

Rice has kicked on in his career to such an extent he is now the inspirational figure for West Ham on the pitch – though says there is still much of the captaincy game to learn from his old friend Mark Noble.

Noble is only a substitute for the majority of the Hammers games at present as David Moyes allows Rice to forge what is becoming an increasingly impressive partnership with Tomas Soucek in the midfield.

But the club stalwart is still a major presence around the club, and for Rice he is the ideal person to lean on for guidance as he continues to evolve as a player and as a captain.

He added: “When you’re on that pitch, you’ve got the armband on it’s your responsibility to lead the team and that’s why I’m so vocal.

“I’ll say stuff, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I hold myself in obviously because I’m still a youngster. I don’t want to come across to one of the older players and be told to f-off.

“Noble is so good at it where he doesn’t care, he’ll just say it how it is whereas me sometimes I’m a bit reserved.

“I feel that I can’t really say that because I’m only 21, but for him obviously he’s been there, done it, he’s been captain for years and where you just say it like it is and you don’t care what anyone else’s opinion is.

“I am gonna have to get like that. I know it’s hard.”

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a d v i c e

fo o t b a l l e r s

l i fe

Magazine Membership Join now on

members@footballerslife.com Become a member now to save 63%.

Annual membership (four issues) is £39 for a limited time, normally £80.

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‘CONTINENTAL GT’ REVEALED AS THE CAR FOOTBALLERS OWN THE MOST

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FC BENTLEY: THE ‘CONTINENTAL GT’ REVEALED AS THE CAR FOOTBALLERS OWN THE MOST

• New research has revealed that the Bentley Continental GT is the car found in the most footballers’ garages, followed by the Range Rover Sport & Bentley Bentaga Onyx

• Continental GT owners include Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Mo Salah and a host of other footballers that have opted for the luxury grand tourer

•

The research also revealed that despite the popularity of the Continental GT, Ferrari took the crown as the number one manufacturer favoured by the sporting stars

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November 2020: Specialist insurance website MoneyBeach.co.uk has revealed the makes and models of car that are most popular with football’s elite. The luxurious Bentley Continental GT ranks as the vehicle the highest number of footballers own, having become a favourite with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Mo Salah and Mario Balotelli.

Using data from celeb car-spotting website celebritycarsblog.com and multiple news articles to rank what the stars drive the most, MoneyBeach.co.uk also analysed which manufactures are found in most footballers’ garages. While Bentley can lay claim to having the most sought-after car model, it was actually notorious Italian manufacturer Ferrari that topped the league for players searching for a new set of wheels.

Other popular models suggest that when off the pitch, footballers prefer to opt for size and comfort, with much of the top ten made up of luxury 4x4s, including the Marcus Rashford owned Range Rover Sport and the Mercedes-Benz G Wagon, a popular choice with the Hollywood elite, in addition to football’s own A-List.

The

Top

10

Car Models Footballers Own the Most

1.

Bentley Continental GT

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2.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

3.

Bentley Bentaga Onyx

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4.

Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography

5.

Aston Martin DB9

6.

Ford Mustang GT

7.

Ferrari 488

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8.

Mercedes-Benz G Wagon

9.

Ferrari LaFerrari

10.

Tesla Model S

The Top 10 Car Manufacturers Footballers Own the Most

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Ferrari

Bentley

Land Rover

Aston Martin

Lamborghini

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Mercedes-Benz

Maserati

Rolls-Royce

Ford

Porsche

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Nobis Canadian Luxury Outerwear Brand

Reveals

Fall/Winter 2020 Collection Canadian luxury outerwear brand Nobis reveals a first look at its Fall/Winter 2020 collection, inspired by aesthetics from classic retro space films such as 2001:

The collection introduces new colours including cool chalks, light grey neutrals and featured colour, Atomic Orange, complemented with futuristic black accents on

Inner

zippers and ribbing details.

Wayland Black

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Wayland Marine Inner

A Space Odyssey.

Yatesy Travis Navy

Travis Grey

Key styles include the iconic Yatesy long parka, Travis mid length parka and the military inspired Heritage parka.

New silhouettes include the Madden, a men’s classic car coat re-engineered to battle the elements; as well as the Wayland, a long reversible puffer jacket with full technical capabilities.

Travis Fat igue

Yatesy Crosshatch Navy

True to form, all pieces feature Nobis’ exclusive EmbraceTM membrane lamination, Durable Water Repellent coatings - waterproof zippers, seam-sealed construction - and Premium Canadian Origin White Duck Down insulation.

Inner

Kalvin Chal k

Wayland Chal k

In accompaniment, the collection also includes a new assortment of accessories such as the Langdon and Reed quilted down-filled Fargo hats, quilted down gloves, woven scarves and moulded bucket hats.

This is “Us”. This is Nobis.

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N e w S e a s o n K i c ks : StockX reveals the hottest football collabs As football players dust off their boots for the new season, fans are geared up to see their favourite players make their moves on the pitch. The last decade has seen football and fashion collide like never before, and to mark the return of the beautiful game, StockX, the world’s first stock market of things, analysed over 50,000 sales of football-related merchandise on the platform to see who is leading the score board off the pitch.

These are the top three most expensive items, ranked by their highest all-time resale price:

Nike Mercurial Superfly VI Elite CR7 FG Chapter 6 Special Edition - Highest sale £1,484

Nike Mercurial Superfly CR7 Cristiano Ronaldo Rare Gold High - Highest sale £1,077

R o na l d o a n d N e y mar lead in popularity From Bellerin to Pogba and Zidane, collabs between brands and players are a staple of football fashion, but three player collabs stand out when it comes to the resale market. Golden boots all round for legends Ronaldo, Neymar and Beckham.

Ronaldo – scoring 1st place in popularity with his fiery 2018 Air Max 97 collab, which has sold thousands of pairs across both adult and children sizes. The Swoosh and Portuguese star – who has long been tied to The Swoosh – released this all-red pair of sneakers in Spring 2018 as an homage to Ronaldo’s homeland, selling for twice the retail price on average.

Across all items, StockX found that the average resale price for Ronaldo sneaker collabs is roughly £260, with individual sales going for much more.

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Nike Air Max 97 Cristiano Ronaldo Metallic Gold - Highest sale £1,053

Neymar – securing 2nd place in popularity with his Air Jordan 5 collab. The Brazilian international football star teamed up with the Jordan Brand for this special edition in 2018.

The numbers 10 and 23 on the left and right side symbolise the mutual respect between the star and longtime friend Michael Jordan.

Beckham - Former midfielder and global fashion icon David Beckham boasts 3rd place in popularity on StockX, with eight different models actively trading on the platform. His adidas Predator and Accelerator models continue to drive sales, including the adidas Predator Precision FG 25 Year Pack, selling for a high of £378 for select sizes.

Paris Saint-Germain: the foreman in sneakers and streetwear It’s not just footballers holding the cup for most top seller collabs. Brands and clubs are also looking to emulate the success of their players - Paris Saint-Germain being the most popular on the StockX platform to date.

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Paris Saint-Germain collabs also resell for the highest values on the platform. Across all items, StockX found that the average resale price for Paris SaintGermain collabs was £194.

These are the top three most expensive items, ranked by average all-time resale price:

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Mbappé’s sneaker collabs also have some serious game, with the Nike Air Max 98 Kylian Mbappe selling for an average of £150 and recent individual sales going for up to £520 as the season ramps up.

Pa

27

Looking beyond fashion, Kylian Mbappé is also fetching big money on the platform, with his 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Silver #80 trading card recently selling for £2,228 in July this year followed by a nearly 200% increase in price the following month, selling for approximately £6,500 in August 2020.

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Mbappé trading cards are soaring in value

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Since its launch, StockX has sold over 21,000 sneaker and streetwear items associated with PSG, more than any other club merchandise on the platform, top sellers unsurprisingly being PSG Jordan collabs, all ranging from £150 to £300:

The second best-selling football club, in terms of collaborations, is Juventus.

This is largely due to their highly-successful partnership with Palace and adidas, which yielded several popular items, with shirts going for up to £800. *All listed prices were converted from dollars to pounds on 01/09/2020.

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KJUS Mens Formula Jacket - £699 The Men’s Formula Jacket is a freshly upgraded classic, now featuring Swiss 3D foam applications and award-winning AC-Ventilation system that supports the body’s natural heat exchange system. This versatile jacket uses 3D 4-way stretch technology to ensure the material stretches through all layers and in all directions for ultimate freedom of movement.

J.Lindeberg Mens Todd Down Jacket - £550

Snow+Rock: Cold Weather Athleisure For Wherever Winter Takes You

This standout jacket from J.Lindeberg features a waterproof, windproof and breathable 2-layer fabric for total protection from the elements, and stretch for maximum comfort and freedom of movement.

RECCO technology makes you searchable to professional rescuers in the event of an avalanche incident. Undeniable style and peace of mind, too? Sign us up.

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his winter season hasn’t been what any of us expected – but when our spiritual home in the mountains is off limits, we adapt and get our thrills elsewhere. Luckily for you, Snow+Rock’s unrivalled expertise, uncompromising passion and quality gear doesn’t stop at the slopes.

Wherever you’re heading this winter, these top picks will see you from peaks to streets and far beyond, for many seasons to come.

KJUS Men’s Cuche Jacket - £1,399 The Mens Cuche Jacket from KJUS was created by a World Cup champion. Pro skier Didier Cuche knows exactly what fast skiers need in a jacket.

Breathable waterproof outer and warmth-retaining interior inserts let you train all day in comfort.

Want more? Of course you do.

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Toni Sailer Sports Men’s Ruven Jacket - £1,135 Performance combined with lightness - thanks to the ultra light 4-way elastic material. As part of the exclusive men’s capsule collection, the Toni Sailer Mens Ruven Jacket looks impressive whilst providing fantastic breathability, reliable heat retention capacity and absolute waterproof qualities owing to additional welded chamber seams.

Rossignol Men’s Major ½ Zip Midlayer - £190 An iconic men’s Merino wool sweater.

Combining French elegance with Rossignol’s Sport-Chic style, the Mens Major 1/2 Zip Midlayer is a men’s wool sweater. Merino wool is renowned for its exceptional insulation, softness, wicking ability, and antibacterial properties, as well as for being lightweight.

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Bogner Mens Felian Jacket - £1,550 Bogner are the epitome of exuberance, standing out for their quality fabrics, detailing and style.

They offer a contemporary yet classic look for those not prepared to compromise on style or quality, and the Felian is no exception.

KJUS Feel Halfzip - £89 Just like new every time: this jacket’s fabric is refined with HeiQ Pure treatment for natural, long-lasting freshness and comfort throughout the entire day and even after heavy activity. Its lightweight, soft fabric is also quick drying, thanks to its diamondstructured stretch that absorbs moisture and wicks it away from the body, so it can evaporate.

Sinner Skagen Sunglasses - £44 The solid SINNER Skagen sunglasses are equipped with SINTEC polarised MIRROR lenses to eliminate harsh glare, for a view without distortion and maximum protection for your eyes.

Arc’teryx Men’s Covert ½ Zip Neck Fleecet - £125 The Covert 1/2 Zip’s modern sweater styling, clean lines and regular fit blur the distinction between alpine inspired performance and everyday living needs. Arc’teryx specifically developed Alpenex II heathered fleece to create a technical jacket with the elegant look of wool. The polyester fabric has a brushed back knit that is engineered to provide versatile warmth and comfort.

Oakley Flak 2.0 XL Sunglasses - £180 With High Definition Optics® in a ruggedly durable yet comfortably lightweight design, this semi-rimless slice of Oakley engineering takes performance to the next level and brings style along for the ride.

Henjl Men’s Curtis Half-Zip Merino Sweaterp - £180 The Men’s Curtis Half-Zip Merino Sweater from Henjl is made from merino wool with a vintage style. Easy to wear as a midlayer or on its own, it is warm and does not itch. The shoulders and elbows have been reinforced to prolong longevity and strengthen the protection.

Falke Men’s SK2 Cashmere Socks - £110 FALKE SK2 sock provides protection and optimum performance, in a sporty all-round look.

Constructed using extra soft and comfortable finest cashmere, offers excellent comfort and good boot contact, for all day wear.

SmartWool Men’s PhD Outdoor Light Crew Socks - £22 The light half-cushioned Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Crew is a versatile outdoor sock crafted from Merino wool for unrivalled moisture, temperature and odour control.

Anon Mens M2 Goggle + Bonus Lens - £200 The men’s Anon M2 Goggle features Magna-Tech Quick Lens Change Technology, using 16 powerful neodymium magnets to make lens changes easier than ever. Spherical Lens Technology mimics the curvature of the human eye for superior optics, while SONAR lens technology by ZEISS enhances contrast for the best possible definition and terrain recognition. www.snowandrock.com

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Speedcross 5

fa s h i o n

BENEF ITS

£104.00 COLOUR Black / Black / Cherry Tomato

SP EED C R OSS 5 GTS

St a bilit y

Fit

The sole of SPEEDCROSS 5 has larger lugs with more space and an updatd geometry, delivering better push-off grip and braking grip, in all surface conditions.

The heel unit of SPEEDCROSS 5 creates a cradle for your heel, ensuring clean foot strike and stability through the stride.

SPEEDCROSS 5 uses a completely welded upper, with dissociated sensifit arms. it moves more naturally with your foot, and dials in the comfort.

Predict 2

Grip

£150.00 COLOUR White / Black / White

To celebrate the Golden Trail Series, we launched a special edition of the next-generation SPEEDCROSS 5.

This shoe goes back to the source code, capitalizing on the values that make SPEEDCROSS legendary. Even more grip and a more dynamic upper set a new high bar on performance and fit. And with better stability and a refined look, a new legend has arrived.

P R ED I C T 2 Unlock your potential with a running shoe that adapts to you and the road.

The updated PREDICT2 features Anatomic Decoupling to shadow your running style, reducing stress on joints and delivering a smooth ride. TPU-based Infiniride™ amplifies the experience by keeping landings cushy. An all-round road runner offering exceptional fit and comfort.

BE N EF IT S Ada pt a b l e r i d e

P r emi u m c u s h i o n i n g

36 0° i n stant f it

Unlock to adapt. Anatomic Decoupling lets the PREDICT flex with your foot, so the independent platforms can adapt to your stride and the terrain.

Plush cushioning with every strike – our TPUbased Infiniride™ foam allows you to clock miles in first-class comfort.

A foot-hugging fit from a ultra-comfy sock-like forefoot construction with no inner seams.

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hanel Joan Elkayam is a luxury womenswear and accessories designer.

She is a graduate of Central Saint Martins, one of the most international renowned and recognised fashion schools, having nurtured such talent as McQueen and Galliano in the past.

Her early interest in fashion unearthed her natural talent for refined techniques and inventive cuts. This has contributed to her signature and classical aesthetic. Her attention to detail fuels her pursuit of perfection in every piece.

Every Womenswear collection designed by Chanel Joan Elkayam combines both sophistication and glamour. The simple and timeless appearance of her collections appeal to all tastes with their slender silhouettes, alluring cuts and sensual fabrics.

Notable pieces within her designs have been embroidered with diamonds, Swarovski crystals and glass beads.

The young designer also offers bespoke services. She has designed custom made garments for global figures.

Chanel Joan Elkayam is the youngest fashion designer to showcase a couture collection in Paris Fashion Week (18 years old), New York Fashion Week (19 years old), London Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week (both at the age of 20 years old). This feat makes Chanel Joan the youngest fashion designer in history to complete the big four fashion weeks by the age of 20 years old and within the first four years of her career as a fashion designer.

Her designs have appealed to the global press and media. She has been interviewed on television in China, India, France and Israel. She also received acclaim from global journalists and fashion

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bloggers after her showcases. In addition to that Chanel was selected to participate in a project by the Chinese national television as 1 of the 100 most interesting people from across the globe.

In addition to showcasing her designs at the big four fashion weeks. Chanel Joan Elkayam’s designs have been shown on other prestigious catwalks such as The Women in Business Expo, The International Quilt Show, L’Oréal Colour Trophy, BabylissStylist Pro Hair Show and Manchester Fashion Week.

Chanel Joan Elkayam has been awarded: The John Carters Award and the Young Designer of the Year UK (2015).

Chanel Joan Elkayam prioritises an environmentally friendly practise throughout production in order to have a lower impact on the environment. All leftover fabric is utilised to create accessories, shoes and face masks to minimise waste. No fabrics or garments are disposed of.

Elkayam has also supported other charities such as JDRF and Childs-i-foundation Uganda.

She donated two tickets to her Autumn/Winter show in London Fashion Week. These two tickets raised a total of £10,000 thus helping to provide support for the community in Migpi, Uganda with the tools to protect their own children, #wemakefamiliesnotorphans.

Chanel Joan Elkayam donated 2 dresses from her AW19 collection to Caudwell Children Charity which was sold at their butterfly ball 2019 live auction for £10,000. Elkayam then donated another garment, to Caudwell Children Charity which was sold at their ladies' lunch 2019 live auction for £3,600 both donations helping to change the future of disabled children.

As an on-going supporter of the Caudwell Children Charity, Chanel Joan Elkayam is currently working on a project with them to raise much needed funds. She has designed a t-shirt with her hand drawn artwork named “Hope” which will be worn by celebrities to spread awareness as well as being sold in the charities online auction.

She donated the left over goodie bags from her London Fashion Week show to several charities for fundraising competitions and prizes. With the most recent donation of goodie bags going to TED Gala, a charity for Thyroid Eye Disease.

Chanel Joan Elkayam’s audience is women, men and non-binary of all ages and ethnicities.

Chanel Joan Elkayam is not a designer that simply follows the trends of the day, instead her purpose is to inspire leaders amongst us and create unique, timeless works of art that empowers the wearer, this was encapsulated in her I don't follow I lead campaign.

A granddaughter of a holocaust survivor, Elkayam is passionate about spreading understanding and acceptance of all cultures and pushing the vision that one should not be restricted in their potential simply because of their origin or beliefs.

Inclusiveness is a core value of her brand and Elkayam does not shy away from doing things differently and channelling her visions through embracing gaps in the diversity of the industry today.

Chanel Joan Elkayam’sface masks have been loved by many people, celebrities and royalty.

E.g. Prince Noah de Nassau, Jose Castelo Branco, Lady Betty Grafsteinand Tonia Buxton to name a few. www.chaneljoanelkayam.com

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MEET

CAMPBELL MARSON: THE WORLD’S FINEST WOODEN EYEWEAR TO MATCH YOUR JET, CAR & SUPERYACHT Picture the scene: You’re wearing a bespoke made-to-measure Savile Row suit, driving a custombuilt supercar en route to the hangar of your interior designed private jet.

Yet you’re still wearing ‘off the shelf’ designer sunglasses?

Not anymore. London super eyewear maker Campbell Marson now offer their UHNW clients the option to uniquely tailor a pair of glasses to match their UHNW lifestyle.

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One such pair, created for a private client in Dubai, was crafted from amboyna burr, one of the rarest woods in the world.

Studded with diamonds and 24 carat gold, the £25k pair was custom designed to match the interior of his supercar.

“

The brand offers their most discerning clients the chance to incorporate any precious metal or stones.

So whether you desire the world’s finest Columbian emeralds, the most durable platinum or the rarest Burmese Rubies, Campbell Marson will create a pair suited to both your aesthetic & lifestyle,

There is still plenty of appetite for serious luxury items. If you’re going to spend £10k on a bespoke Savile Row suit, it seems disproportionate to only spend £250 on a pair of off the shelf sunglasses.

- ALAN FOX, MD of CAMPBELL MARSON

”

With a pedigree in wood going back to 1924, Campbell Marson are no newcomers to the luxury market. The company started its career by installing intricate design marquetry floors into some of the most iconic buildings in London, including The Tate Modern and the V&A. Yet now their frames adorn some of the wealthiest & most famous faces in the world.

Campbell Marson Bespoke Collection: £POA www.campbellmarson.com

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INTRODUC ING

URBANISTA LONDON: SOU N D A N D SI L E N C E Si le nc e the outside world or le t the sound in wi th Urba ni sta’s ne w ac tive n oi se ca nc elling ea rphone s

Urbanista, the Swedish lifestyle audio brand, announces the launch of Urbanista London, an active noise cancelling true wireless earphone, designed to put the listener in control. London is the latest in the brand’s true wireless headphone line-up and lives up to their tagline: ‘Designed for Life in Motion’. Boasting an in-ear style that combines secure fit and crystal clear, isolated sound with comfort, simplicity and reliability, Urbanista London allows listeners to either completely block out the outside world or hear their surroundings without interruption to their listening experience.

Priced at £129 MSRP, London is available in four stylish colours and boasts full compatibility with iOS, Android and Windows devices.

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A S o un d E xperienc e T hat Yo u C o ntrol Urbanista London is designed to provide the perfect fit and is comfortable for long periods of wear. Axel Grell, an acoustical engineer who developed the sound design for Urbanista London, comments: “We have worked incredibly hard to perfect and fine tune the sound of Urbanista London. The tiny details make for an earphone with incredible clarity and natural sound reproduction with ground shaking bass and smooth highs. The microspeakers I have selected are at the acoustical heart of these earphones. Urbanista London boasts a wide frequency range with very low distortion, an important feature especially for an active noise cancelling earphone.”

Whether you feel like blocking out the noise of a busy morning commute or would like to hear what is around you, Urbanista London puts you in control. With the new active noise cancelling (ANC) feature, at the press of a button you are able to completely switch off the outside world. Otherwise, remain conscious of your surroundings while enjoying a strong audio experience with Ambient Sound Mode.

This feature enables you to switch to a voice-enhancing mode while listening to your music or podcast, allowing outside sounds in and ensuring you can hear any voices around you, loud and clear.

Urbanista believes earphones should be intelligently designed and complement the user’s lifestyle, which is why Urbanista London earbuds have a built-in ear detection technology that is programmed to pause when the sensors detect that you have taken one bud out of your ear.

The music will stop playing completely when both earbuds are removed.

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In spi red by the C i t y Staying connected is easy with London: the latest in 5.0 Bluetooth connectivity means London is compatible with your iOS, Windows or Android device and allows you to have your voice assistant available at the touch of a button. Whilst on the go, the built-in noise cancelling dual microphone allows you to make or receive stereo phone calls, adjust the volume, play and stop.

London provides a playtime of 5 hours, and with 4 additional full charges from the case, a total playtime of 25 hours. The indicator lights will let you know when you are out of charge and then you can conveniently charge your earphones in under one hour on any Qi-certified pad or via the USB Type-C cable, straight out of the box.

Urbanista London is packed with style and creativity and our earphones are inspired by the vibrant and busy city. To express your personal style, London is available at launch in Midnight Black (Black), Rose Gold (Pink), White Pearl (White) and Dark Sapphire (Blue) and comes with a sleek and slim colour-matched charging case. London has an IPX4 waterproof rating and is therefore protected from splashing water at any angle.

Anders Andreen, CEO of Urbanista, comments: “London is a truly special product and we are very excited to welcome this model to our true wireless family. The small and ergonomic design provides the perfect fit that looks great and with the active noise cancelling and ambient sound features, London is perfect for life in motion.”

Ke y Features of Urbanista London

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Active noise cancelling (ANC) feature

Bluetooth 5.0 connection

Built-in ear detection sensors

USB Type-C cable

Ambient Sound Mode

Silicone earbuds - different sizes available for a more personalised in-ear fit

Wireless charging in one hour under any Qi-certified pad

Four stylish colours: Midnight Black (Black), Rose Gold (Pink),

Slim, colour matched charging case carrying 4 full charges

White Pearl (White) and Dark Sapphire (Blue).

4 indicator lights showing battery capacity

Volume and music control

25 hours playtime: each playtime runs up to 5

Voice control (Siri and Google Assistant)

hours. The pocket-sized charging case is ready for

Stereo phone calls

another 4 full charges recharging house

Full iOS, Android and Windows compatibility

IPX4 protected - protected from splashing water at any angle

Urbanista London is available online at www.urbanista.com

g a d g e t s

Naim Mu-so for Bentley Special Edition, £1,799, shop.bentleymotors.com This is a unique edition of Naim’s multiaward-winning Mu-so 2nd Generation: a wireless speaker system that offers authentic audio expertise blended with the latest music-streaming technology, exquisite build quality, delightful usability and even the ability to transform your TV sound.

The powerful Mu-so can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a multi-room system, all with easy app control.

This Special Edition is the first ever Mu-so to feature a wooden finish. It is crafted from Ayous, a sustainable African hardwood, which is then expertly stained and repeatedly lacquered to give a dramatic, dark finish unique to this system.

Other standout features include an exclusive smoked plinth, copperthreaded speaker grille and the signature Bentley lattice design surrounding the tactile volume dial, which illuminates to your touch.

Focal for Bentley Radiance headphones, £1,199, shop.bentleymotors.com Every aspect of the Focal Radiance headphones is designed for the ultimate in high-quality listening.

For example, the earcups are made from soft, breathable Pittards gloving leather for incredible comfort. Pittards has been crafting leather in Somerset since 1826, with its ultrasoft yet durable designs used by everyone from fashion houses to round-the-world yacht racers and the military; Spitfire pilots in the Second World War wore Pittards gloves.

Radiance headphones can be enjoyed at home or on the move. They come with luxury packaging, including a bespoke carry case, finished in the same woven material featured on the speaker grille of the Naim for Bentley Mu-so special edition.

They feature high-quality audio components, and are tuned to share the acclaimed sonic signature of the Mu-so, for a consistently excellent musical experience anywhere.

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Major IV headphones

Available from www.marshallheadphones.com

The iconic headphones have had an upgrade ready for the winter season. The Major IV is a serious consideration for the audiophile in your life.

Combining enhanced usability with classic Marshall elements for a design that is both iconic and innovative. Major IV delivers the signature Marshall sound that you’ve come to expect. Paired with the headphone’s new, improved ergonomic design means that when you’re deep diving into your music, the tenth hour is as comfortable as the first.

The Major IV will deliver an explosive sound you’ll never want to turn off. Delivers 80+ solid hours of wireless playtime, plus a quick-charge capability – just 15 minutes of charging will give you an impressive 15 hours of listening.

Available at Dixons, Argos, Selfridges, Richer Sounds, Urban Outfitters for £129

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Warwick Acoustics The ultimate gift for music lovers, 24kt Gold headphones

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niversity of Warwick spin out company, Warwick Acoustics, have the ultimate gift for music enthusiasts seeking the most unforgettable and remarkable listening experience delivered in a one of kind, eye-catching, headphone system.

The ‘Limited Edition 24kt Gold APERIO’ headphones are now available to buy via appointment only at Harrods, in Knightsbridge, London.

The headphone grilles, hardware, and Amplifier front panel have all been custom hand-finished in 99.9999% pure 24 Karat Gold. Each Gold APERIO also bears a unique individually numbered ‘Limited Edition’ nameplate that sits on top of the Amplifier.

It is plated and hand-finished in the United Kingdom’s historic ‘Jewellery Quarter’, Birmingham, United Kingdom, which has been described by English Heritage as ‘a national treasure’.

In addition to the stunning Gold finish, the system uses the highest grade and closest matched BD-HPEL transducers, delivering the very best performance of any APERIO System.

The system is located in the VIP Audio Experience Room in Harrods’ the state-of-theart Technology Department on Level 5. For bookings and more information, please call Harrods Technology Department on +44 (0)20 7225 6838 and ask for Caudel or Sikander.

“

Dr Duncan Billson, from the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick, one of the founders of Warwick Acoustics comments:

A great deal of planning, R&D, engineering, testing, and highly appreciated investor funds have been spent since our amazing

“To have our 24kt gold APERIO

HPEL transducer technology was born

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For pricing please visit: www.warwickacoustics.com/headphones/collection/

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“

Martin Roberts, Managing Director of Warwick Acoustics comments:

headphone system is now stocked in the UK’s flagship retail store, Harrods.

”

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

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

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

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& Rock

Journaling is meant to be good for the soul and with lockdown many people have been turning to the traditional hobby.

C r a ft s m a n s h i p : The making of

Bark & Rock

For trained geography and crafts teacher, Tamas Gál, it was no wonder he would combine a love of nature and craftsmanship to help create one of the most luxurious journals on the market.

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ark & Rock, a small Surrey-based company has been handcrafting journals and books from natural wood and stone, ever since its inception in 2018, including the Walnut Burr that is used in the interior of Bentley’s. Mark Gosling started the business after seeing a gap in the stationery market when designing notebooks for another personalisation company he owned. His son, Luke is now heading up the bespoke stationery company, creating the books using over 40 handpicked different luxury wood veneers. Luke’s role covers anything from dealing with clients’ enquiries, working with suppliers and stockists to making books and designing packaging. He spent the first six months sanding wood and learning everything from scratch.

After considerable time spent on Research & Development Bark & Rock is now one of the only workshops in the UK making high-end journals from natural material by hand. Director Luke, 25, explains: “Concentrating our journals and notebooks on the world’s best and unusual woods and stones not only increased the material costs but the craftsmanship and time it took to make one. I can make a book but then we found Tamas, he’s better than me, he’s a true craftsman!

“We spent the first 18 months refining our process and ensuring quality was key, this included making sure the pages didn’t slip down, as that can be annoying; ensuring the spine could move easily but be sturdy enough to last a lifetime and engineering our own fittings to integrate the refillable paper together with the cover that can be as thin as 2.8mm.

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“Working with these wood veneers is like working on a piece of art. It is challenging because no two pieces are the same. The craftsmanship all comes down to the detail and we now have something that we are really proud of.”

During the pandemic, Tamas and Luke have been busy with a steady stream of orders from clients that include UK consumers and international retailers from Russia, the USA, Japan and even Monte Carlo.

Master-trained wood technician Tamas, 26, who is originally from Hungary, was interested in crafting from a young age and left college with qualifications to become a primary school and craft teacher before graduating in geography.

While studying in Ukraine, he learned wood surface treatment techniques from various local masters, he went on to work for an exclusive parquet flooring company in the UK before coming across Bark & Rock where he could put his wood and carpentry skills to the test.

Bark & Rock won Tamas over when he first heard about the company. He comments: “I was captivated by the books when I first saw them, it seemed unbelievable that it was possible to make these out of wood and stone. We have had challenges and it took us several months to get the process right.

The important thing now is to ensure every book is made with patience and care.”

It can take four days to make one book and because of the wood or stone patterns no two journals are the same, making them completely unique. First Luke and Tamas select each bundle of veneer to find the best grain patterns. With the bark, for example, each bundle has 24 leaves, from which 12 books can be made. The first stage is to avoid splitting the bark, so the veneer needs to be soaked and left under pressure to dry.

The process then moves from cutting and bonding together to sanding, laser cutting and spraying with very specially sourced, ecological oils before final drying then the internal papers and engineered fittings are assembled.

Bark & Rock is now creating notebooks, journals, photograph albums and guestbooks. Special editions include silver and 24-Carat gold personalisation and wood inlaying or those with covers that include personal, intricate carvings, cut out by Tamas in the workshop. “The inlayed books are my favourite to make because they are totally unique,” adds Tamas. “I am old school and in my free time I often read and take notes, so do appreciate a great notebook over an e-book or iPad. I think the culture of traditional books should be made fashionable again.”

Prices for the refillable journals start at £260. For more details see www.barkandrock.com or call 0208 941 3481.

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HOW TO HAVE A FE STIVE FRILUF TSLIV FEAST WI TH

W E B E R BA R BEC UE S

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ith the option of enclosed indoor gatherings this winter looking bleak, it’s perhaps time to rethink our winter traditions and explore alternative ways to welcome the Winter. The world’s leading barbecue brand Weber, and their team of outdoor cooking experts have therefore put together some cold-hardy entertaining tips and alfresco eating ideas, to help you embrace the outdoors and enjoy your seasonal celebrations.

Where better to start for inspiration than at the home of the perennial barbecuer, Scandinavia. In Norway, their lifestyle concept of friluftsliv or ‘free air life’ means that the Norwegians take any opportunity to be outside, whatever the weather; with cooking no exception. In Scandinavia barbecues are had all year round come rain, shine or snow, despite having harsher, wetter Winters than the UK. Less than 3% of British barbecue owners barbecue in the Winter whilst Norwegian barbecue owners are over three times more likely to cook outdoors in the colder months . Why?

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“We really don’t know!” said Weber Grill Master, Dan Cooper. “Winter barbecuing is one of the most wonderfully enlivening and multi-sensory seasonal experiences you can have; the sound of the fire crackling, the scent of wood smoke meat roasting not to mention the rather practical giving of warmth.

It’s ideal particularly this year as a way to socialise and celebrate at a safe distance. Winter 2020 will more likely be a month of smaller more flexible celebrations, so why not gather around the barbecue and prep pulled pork, ribs or a beautifully smokey one pot stew for the family? Or take the opportunity to start a new tradition and roast your Christmas turkey, goose or ham on your Weber? Simply serving up S’mores, hot chocolate or mulled cider for a few friends around the barbecue can create an occasion like no other .”

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing” is a saying the Norwegians live by. Whether it’s with trees, awnings, blankets, wool sweaters, fire pits or cosy socks, there’s always a way to cover and protect you from the elements and ensure you can enjoy the great outdoors whatever the weather. With many UK home owners having already invested in their outdoor space this year it makes sense to make the most of it. One of the benefits of a Weber barbecue is that they are designed for lid-on cooking, meaning you can pop your food on the grill, close the protective lid and keep cooking.

“Keeping the lid shut, also helps to control the temperature meaning your food cooks quicker and with less fuel” Cooper continued. “More importantly it tastes better, as the smoke and moisture-rich air circulate, infusing your ingredients and creating a delicious, juicy, smoky BBQ flavour.”

Weber barbecues are made using only the highest quality anti-corrosive materials and put through rigorous testing so owners can be confident that they will perform at a superior level in any type of weather. “With this winter likely to be like no other, why not take the opportunity to discover what is possible this Winter on your Weber? Trust your barbecue, be patient as cooking may take a little longer and make sure you have extra fuel just in case” finished Dan Cooper.

For further information, recipes or advice visit www.weber.com.

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A Tourbillon in Still Waters

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elicately placed on a mother-of-pearl dial, hand-painted carp and sculpted lotuses surround a flying tourbillon. Arnold & Son presents the Ultrathin Tourbillon Koi, a delicate unique piece that blends fine watchmaking and the artistic crafts. The House showcases its broad spectrum of skills within a red-gold case measuring 8.34 mm thick. Here, the finest craftsmanship builds on tried-and-tested watchmaking technique.

Arnold & Son is highlighting its tradition of bespoke watch creations. Ever attentive to the wishes of its customers, the brand is offering them the chance to personalise its collections. Customers can apply substantial changes, making a case, movement or dial unique through engraving, gem-setting, miniature painting or sculpted elements.

One of the models that is particularly well suited to this exercise is the Ultrathin Tourbillon, with its off-centred dial at 12 o’clock. This arrangement frees up space to provide an empty canvas that can be filled with whatever the customer desires.

B e n e at h the surface In the same vein, the Swiss brand with English roots presents the Ultrathin Tourbillon Koi, a unique piece that depicts two carp gliding between lotus blossoms. Koi are a popular theme in traditional Japanese art and inspire tranquillity. Above and beyond their beauty and serenity, they are a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity.

A Tancho carp, recognisable thanks to the large red mark on its head, swims on the right-hand side of the dial. Peering out from beneath the sleeve, it is the first to be seen when checking the time. The scene continues with another koi in shades of white and orange gracing the other side of the dial.

A pond in full bloom Above these ornamental carp float three lotus blossoms. The petals are cut from silver and shaped, before being engraved, polished and painted in dazzling white lacquer. Each flower’s pistil is formed separately using the same techniques, then the two parts are combined.

The carp and lotus leaves, meanwhile, are painted by hand using incredibly thin brushes that allow a wealth of details to be added, such as scales, barbels and striped fins. The base of the dial is made from blue-toned mother-of-pearl, its iridescent shimmer evoking the water in which this charming scene unfolds.

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A ripple of

opportunity

Beneath this poetic depiction of pond life, Arnold & Son draws on the vast possibilities presented by the calibre A&S8200. Its thickness of 2.97 mm puts it within touching distance of the all-time records for thinness in this category.

The movement displays the hours and minutes in an off-centred dial at 12 o’clock. At 6 o’clock, an aperture reveals a tourbillon whose construction is special in more ways than one.

Movement in the water First and foremost, the tourbillon is a ‘flying’ variety, meaning that it only has a lower carriage bridge. Since the top is not held in place, a few precious millimetres of height can be saved, thus freeing up the view of this timekeeping mechanism. The balance, meanwhile, is off-centred from the carriage axis, creating a dynamic visual impression as the tourbillon rotates. Another distinctive feature is the balance bridge, which is domed and extends slightly from the dial, ensuring that the rest of the movement is unaffected by the total height. This, in turn, makes the tourbillon’s rotation all the more spectacular. The effect is further accentuated by the skeletonised main plate located just beneath the tourbillon.

The resulting transparency creates an ethereal impression consistent with the refined theme of the Ultrathin Tourbillon Koi. Finally, this manually wound movement features an exceptional 90-hour power reserve – another technical signature of the House.

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U lt r at h i n T o u r b i l l o n K o i Te c h n i c a l s p e c i f i c a t i o n s

Fu n c t i o n s hours, minutes Movement C a l i b r e - A&S8200, 1 minute flying tourbillon, manual winding J ew e l s - 29 D i a m et e r - 32.00 mm T h i c k n e s s - 2.97 mm P o w e r re s e rv e - 90 hours F re qu e n c y - 3 Hz / 21,600 vph F i n i s h e s - main plate: Côtes de Genève stripes radiating from the centre and hand-engraved tourbillon bridge bridges: polished and chamfered by hand wheels: circular satin-finished screws: blued and chamfered, mirror-polished heads tourbillon carriage: satin-finished, polished and chamfered

D i a l miniature painting on black mother-of-pearl silver lotus flowers, engraved and painted by hand Ca s e M at e r i a l - 18-carat red gold (5N) D i a m et e r - 42.00 mm T h i c k n e s s - 12.23 mm (with crystal) C ry sta l - domed sapphire with an antireflective coating on both sides C a s e b a c k - sapphire crystal Wa t e r - re s i sta n c e - 30 metres / 100 feet

Strap M at e r i a l - hand-stitched alligator leather B u c k l e - pin buckle, 18-carat red gold (5N) Re f e re n c e - 1UTAR.M99A. Ed i t i o n - unique piece G u i d e p ri c e - CHF 89,000 excl. tax (subject to change)

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ith its XXL moon, the Perpetual Moon is ruled by Selene, the goddess of this celestial body. Arnold & Son presents a limited edition of 28 pieces featuring this distinctive complication, adorned with an extraordinary material rarely seen in watchmaking. With a dial made from Mexican obsidian, this timepiece appears to be bathed in bronze moonlight. The stone is reflected in the large rhodium-plated moon and the perfectly polished hour-markers. The result is an interplay of reflections, vibrations and warmth that echoes the light of Earth’s satellite.

Showcasing one of the largest moons to be found in the watchmaking sphere, the Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon Obsidian stands out for the size of its complication and the aesthetic approach employed by the resolutely British Swiss brand. Housed in a 42 mm red gold case, beneath a rarely seen golden obsidian dial, is its hand-wound calibre A&S1512, offering a precision double moon phase display.

PA NOR A M IC On the movement side, a hand display allows for extremely fine adjustments. On the dial side, a large moon disc occupies almost the entire aperture, presented in a vast window with a round cut-out that allows the changing faces of the moon to be admired. The realistic depiction is crossed by shadows and areas of relief to add to its presence.

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R A RIT Y In the exterior details, Arnold & Son has taken this approach even further. The moon is only visible because it reflects the light from the sun. In the same way, the light brings the Perpetual Moon Obsidian to life with its shimmering reflections.

A G OL D EN HE A RT From Mexico, the Manufacture sourced of one of the oldest and most intriguing stones: golden obsidian. This volcanic stone has been mined in Central America since time immemorial and was used in particular in the religious ceremonies of pre-Columbian civilisations. Obsidian has a very high silica content, making it a hard and shiny material. Golden obsidian owes its shimmer to the semi-precious stone’s chemical composition and its specific crystallisation. Its bronze hue extends far beneath the surface, right into the heart of the material. Despite the minute amount used for the dial, it still produces a glistening effect, reflected in turn in the hands and hour-markers.

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Arnold & Son selected cool shades to contrast with the stone. The moon and hands are rhodium-plated and the hourmarkers are made from diamond-polished white gold. Together, these choices enhance the reflections of the golden obsidian and the red gold of the case. To complete this contrasting interplay of warm and cool tones, the brand chose a blue alligator-leather strap with visible silver-coloured topstitching.

Like all the movements used by Arnold & Son, the calibre A&S1512 was entirely developed, produced, decorated, assembled, adjusted and cased up in the brand’s manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. This calibre is based on a large barrel with an oscillation frequency of 3 Hz, giving a 90hour power reserve. Last but not least, the moon phase display of this movement will remain accurate for 122 years before deviating from the actual lunar cycle by one day.

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Introducing the

Heritage Night Owl & Bamford Mirage into the B a m f o r d G M T C o l l e ct i o n

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j ewe l l e r y ollowing the success of the launch of the GMT Collection, Bamford London will introduce 2 new timepieces to extend the colour options that are currently available.

Designed to show the time in two different time zones simultaneously, the GMT was originally developed as a navigation instrument for professionals crossing the globe. Bamford London had requests from clients for such a piece, and added their version of the GMT to meet their clients demands.

George Bamford, Founder of Bamford Watch Department comments, “At Bamford London we have long been inspired by watches of the past and it is for this reason that we have been inspired to create a “Heritage” collection to add to our existing range. The new timepieces have been inspired by the familiar colour schemes from some of the most iconic classic of the past “

The two new timepieces include the Bamford GMT Mirage grain steel dial and The Heritage Night Owl with a red and blue bezel.

The Bamford London GMT has a fully automatic mechanical Swiss movement. The self-winding Sellita SW330-1 movement has a 42 hour power reserve, and quick-set date function. The stainless steel case is 40mm.

The timepiece has the additional benefit of being water resistant to 100m / 10ATM and, as the name suggests, a 24-hour GMT hand function with internal rotating bezel, indicates a separate time zone.

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Technical Inform ation: TYPE: Automatic GMT watch with internal rotating bezel

Movement: Sellita SW330-1, 25 Jewels, 28,800 Vph, 42 hour power reserve

Function: Self winding mechanism with ball bearing, 3 o’clock date position with quick date setting, second time zone by central hand

Case Material: 316L grade stainless steel, Sapphire Crystal glass with antiglare Case diameter: 40mm Case thickness: 11.2mm Caseback material: Stainless Steel Water Resistance: 100m / 10 ATM Lug Width: 20mm

Available online from 29th July 2020. www.bamfordlondon.com. Price: £1,100

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The Bamford Mayfair Date watch is dependable and has the added benefit of being waterproof to 10ATM, making it a great accessory for outdoor activities whilst remaining effortlessly cool and stylish.

With a range of colours and strap materials, the timepiece can be designed to suit any environment.

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ollowing on from the success of the first edition of the Mayfair Date, we have taken the watch to the next level by introducing The Bamford London Mayfair Date Colour Rings.

It is the second edition of our signature timepiece. Sitting in the mainstay of our Bamford London collection, the newly updated designs focus on new colour combinations confirming it’s asymmetrical design of the classic Bamford Mayfair Date.

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Technical Inform ation: TYPE: Swiss Ronda 715 Date Quartz Movement CASE MATERIAL: Stainless Steel finished with Military Grade Titanium Coating (MGTC) CASE DIAMETER: 40 mm CASE THICKNESS: 15 mm CASE-BACK: Stainless Steel WATER-RESISTANCE: 10 ATM LUG WIDTH: 20mm

Available online from 29th July 2020. www.bamfordlondon.com. Price: £450.00

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PHONE STAND & GRIP DESIGNED WITH YOU IN MIND

A slim & functional phone stand and grip, which clicks into place for everyday use. CLCKR Stands By You.

CLCKR.COM

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USM Haller Modular Furniture – The Furniture for Design Lovers

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favourite with lovers of mid-century design, USM modular furniture is recognised throughout the world as a design classic.

The success of USM is due to its simple yet ingenious design. From a few basic components a beautiful and iconic piece of furniture is built, which can easily be reconfigured for individual creativity. It is the Swiss precision in which the components are made that give the furniture the strength, versatility and clean lines that make USM instantly recognisable and saw it invited into the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMa). Available in the signature 14 colours you can choose from classic monochromes to pops of colour including golden yellow or genetian blue.

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Developed to be totally adaptive, its unique structure is at once discreet and striking and is perfect in many forms from credenzas and chests of drawers to drinks trollies or media units. USM Haller is a particular favourite with vinyl collectors, keeping much loved records beautifully displayed and organised, with the furniture’s dimensions perfectly in tune with a 12 inch LP. USM has the added ability to grow as the record collection does.

USM Haller E is the newest innovation from USM; integrating light and energy directly into the structure of the furniture wirelessly. Dimmable lighting elements can be discreetly retracted into the metal rods to serve a variety of purposes: they can light shelves and display cases from the inside or effectively cover a room wall with light – choosing from a daylight glow or a warm white ambience. Light is not the only integral aspect of USM Haller E- mobile devices can also be charged directly from the structure. Just like the light sources, USB chargers can be attached where ever needed – plugged into pre-defined recesses, they are fully integrated into the rods and barely visible. www.usm.com Visit USM’s London Showroom 49-51 Central Street EC1V 8AB or book a digital consultation via info.uk@usm.com or 0207183 3470

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Claremont Regent 3 Tap Hole Mixer with Pop-Up Waste with White Accent in Gold: £414.00, Towel Ring in Gold: £79.00, Cistern Flush Lever in Gold: £25.00, Flush Pipe in Gold: £139, WC Toilet Roll Holder in Gold: £169.00 & Claremont Bath Shower Mixer Deck Mounted with White Accent in Gold: £649.00

elivering an effortlessly elegant look to traditional bathroom schemes, Burlington is proud to present its new Gold and Nickel finishes to its comprehensive brassware and accessories collection. Available in selected Claremont taps and meticulously crafted to celebrate the classic style synonymous with the rest of the Burlington collection, the new designs will suit a variety of trend-led interiors, delivering a luxurious aesthetic with a characterful twist.

Claremont Regent 3 Tap Hole Mixer with Pop-Up Waste with White Accent in Gold: £414.00

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All prices inclusive of VAT Adding a sense of opulence and grandeur, homeowners can choose everything from deck-mounted taps to soap dishes and tumbler holders that sit beautifully with Burlington’s vanity units and basin designs.

Choose Nickel to bring a truly traditional feel or opt for stunning Gold to add character and sophistication.

Towel Ring in Gold: £79.00

Claremont Regent 3 Tap Hole Mixer with Pop-Up Waste with White Accent in Gold: £414.00 & Towel Ring in Gold: £79.00

Soap Dish With White Accent in Gold: £79.00

For a harmonious look throughout pair the Gold Claremont Three Tap Hole Basin Mixer with the beautiful deep shade of blue found in Burlington’s curved freestanding vanity unit. Pull the scheme together with a neutral colour palette and matching Gold accessories for a statement look that will stand the test of time. A similar look can be achieved by combining the statement Nickel finish with soft greys, classic cabinetry and natural toned herringbone flooring.

Claremont Basin Mixer with Click Clack Waste with White Accent in Nickel: £298.00 & Soap Dish with White Accent in Nickel: £79.00

Claremont Regent Basin Mixer with Click-Clack Waste with White Accent in Gold: £323.00 Made to suit all interior schemes, the new finishes from Burlington will transform everyday bathing routines into a pleasurable experience, bringing traditional brassware to the forefront of modern bathroom design.

Claremont Bath Shower Mixer Deck Mounted with White Accent in Gold: £649.00 Decorative shrouds in Gold: £299

Claremont Bath Shower Mixer Deck Mounted with White Accent in Nickel: £649.00

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Limassol Del Mar’s landmark seafront living proves irresistible for buyers:

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t the intersection of rich cultures, Limassol Del Mar evokes the very essence and beauty of the Mediterranean, which it looks out upon, created to enhance the nature and landscape that surrounds it. This winning combination coupled with the resilience of the Cyprus market, undeterred by covid, and Limassol’s draw as a year round destination has proved irresistible for buyers. Over 80% of residences have now sold and impressively phase A is scheduled to complete by the end of this year.

Set across two distinctive towers within its own mixed-use development, this is a new destination for Cyprus, with a world class retail and culinary offering, against a backdrop of beautiful architecture and design. Benoy unravelled the unique architecture of the development with the distinctive curvilinear elegant proportions; the evocation of both the coastline it envelopes, and the sea beyond. “With its undulating silhouette, the design gracefully echoes the rhythm of the landscape while bringing the magic of the sea into the development. Generous terracing and outdoor pools complete the sense of place. Our design celebrates the many reasons why people have wanted to visit this part of the world for centuries,” says John Dawes, Chief Architect.

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Form and beauty are further played out in the interiors of Limassol Del Mar’s Signature Collection, furnished by Gianfranco Ferré Home, as part of a collaboration with Jumbo Group, the first of its kind for Cyprus. Recognised as the ‘architect of fashion’, an icon of Italian style and genius of geometric patterns Gianfranco Ferré’s legacy lives on through Gianfranco Ferré Home, which has designed bespoke pieces for the apartments and mixed contemporary creations with delicate colours, comfort and classic, timeless designs that fit with the high-end specifications of the apartments on offer.

Inside, ARA Design International, has also used the sea as its inspiration. The company has overseen interiors of the lobby area, residents’ restaurant, spa, gym, as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pool spaces. Creating a sense of arrival, a 3D, handcarved marble sculptural pendant feature is suspended behind the main lobby, running up the wall to the mezzanine level where the restaurant will be situated. Natural and brushed metal finishes are complemented by area rugs in turquoise and blues that depicts flowing water to represent the sea, amplifying light and wellbeing.

The range of two to six bedroom residences and penthouses within the collection feature beautifully crafted terraces with dual aspect panoramas. In synchronicity with the proportions and layout, stunning Alba, velvet sofas with flowing rounded edges – a nod to the waves below - sit with contrasting Isola metal coffee tables and striking Vista glass bar stools in the lounge. Marrying materiality and couture style with a supreme sense of comfort adds to the life-enhancing views. Bedrooms are adorned with metal detailing and eco leathers alongside exclusive Signature Collection linens.

The colour palette is of cool blues against sand, gold and softer greys with eponymous striking monochromatic touches.

“The tones are never loud, the shapes stretch to the limits of what is possible, to draw from the cultural knowledge of our past and be re-proposed in a modern, contemporary way. The ideas we have used in The Signature Collection, are precisely these; a collection that reproduces core concepts, but, at the same time, adapts to the spirit and inspiration behind the entire project,” highlights Livio Ballabio, Partner and Creative Director at Jumbo Group taking into account the history of the site and the international appeal of the development.

An effortless elegance carries through to the Italian kitchen

by Arclinea which has reconstructed granite worktops and integrated Miele appliances showcasing the enhanced specification throughout the apartment while the bathrooms and en suites have custom-made vanity cupboards, delicate mosaic tiling with Duravit fittings and Hansgrohe taps and mixers.

Integrating an unrivalled lifestyle offering, the surrounding La Plaza Del Mar will be a vibrant shopping and culinary destination for Limassol, for residents and visitors alike. Shaping this vision for La Plaza Del Mar is renowned landscape architecture firm, Cracknell whose design reflects the essence of the Mediterranean Sea in every detail, from planting and paving to outdoor furniture layout, using curvilinear lines, reminiscent of water lapping at the development’s edge. Curved walkways on the external footpath invite residents and their guests to visit the luxury boutique outlets on offer on the ground floor, with elevated pocket gardens surrounded by water, forming meditative private spaces for relaxation, while sampling culinary delights and cocktails at the selection of highend restaurants and bars, as they enjoy uninterrupted views of the sea.

Located on Cyprus’ south coast, Limassol has been voted one of the world’s most up-and-coming cities and is the island’s most cosmopolitan.

With a 17km coastline of azure water and blue flag beaches, as well as a wealth of history and culture, it is a hub for both business and leisure. The city enjoys a vibrant shopping district, nightlife and an array of cafes, bars and clubs to cater for all tastes. With a superyacht marina to rival the best in Europe, alongside historical sites and the backdrop of nearby Troodos Mountains, it is also home to some the country’s best private schools.

Prices at The Signature Collection start from €2,020,000.

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ituated in the luxury, upmarket resort of Quinta do Lago, The Campus provides a state-of-the-art facility for locals, visitors and elite athletes.

The multi-sport hub boasts a high performance gym, tennis and padel courts, swimming pool, cycling, group classes and personal training, recovery suites and sports rehabilitation.

The Campus is spread across 46,600 sqm of beautiful space within the privacy and security of the Ria Formosa nature reserve. The facility compliments the health and wellbeing culture that is installed across the entire Quinta do Lago resort, offering a place for relaxation, recovery as well as an environment that is suitable for the most elite athlete as well as children and amateur level visitors.

Arguably most known for its multi-purpose sports field that can be reshaped, re-sized and even have its length of grass sized tailored.

Selected for its all-season durability, and featured in some of the world’s most renowned sporting venues, The Campus is home to the DESSO GrassMaster hybrid pitch – a high tech pitch known for its playing consistency. Exclusively aimed at professional sporting teams and adhering to top international standards, the newly allocated green is 155 x 84 metres and allows for configuration to a full-size football and rugby grounds including technical areas.

The Campus has welcomed pro football clubs from across the globe. French Champions, PSG spent a few days at the resort in the lead up to their Champions League final against Bayern Munich in August. Many clubs have found the world-class facilities, continual warm weather and secure environment to be an attractive location for training camps all year round. An attraction that is not just felt by European Clubs. The Campus has accommodated teams from the USA and as far afield as Asia, something which suits the diaries of all parties with differing season schedules.

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Footballers’ Life spent a few days at The Campus to understand why and how such a high-class facility can be an attraction to people of all ages, backgrounds and professional level. Key to The Campus’ success story to date has been the respectful environment that it has established amongst its members and visitors.

The highly professional staff and trainers have built, what can only be described as, an uplifting vibrant feel.

Varying coaching classes at all times of the day and week allows for visitors to train at a pace and schedule that best suits them. Elite athletes are free to roam the facility as they please but also have the ability to go about their visit in a more private and secure manner, the option is totally theirs. General members of The Campus recognise the unspoken rule of not bothering other visitors including the world superstars that are often spotted across the site.

Naturally, an elite sports hub requires a strong level of security to give its visitors and members a sense of safety and privacy. Stadium grade lockers are on hand to provide storage for individuals and teams whilst they train.

In addition, teams arrive and enter The Campus via a private entrance.

The space occupied via The Campus has been designed to be segregated dependent on requirements, for example Paris Saint-Germain were able to go about their business all the while members were able to continue their use of the complex without crossing paths, maintaining privacy at all times.

In addition to all of this, Quinta do Lago boasts a rapid response for all security incidents provided by the resort’s very own, subtle security team. Security can be deployed and present at any part of the resort within three minutes.

The

The Campus has recognised its unique appeal to athletes across numerous sports and introduced options that includes the individual use of the complex by individual elite pros.

This has been a popular choice for players recovering from long and short term injury as well as during the off-season period as they look to maintain a high level of fitness. Athletes have the choice of booking their personal coaching entourage with them (at an additional cost) or the option of enlisting one of The Campus’ network of fantastic coaches to support them throughout their visit.

The Campus boasts a lot and lacks very little. Visitors have access to everything they need on-site, whether it be super-fast broadband that maintains a strong level of signal at all corners of the complex, or whether it is recovery suits that include ice baths and private masseuse areas.

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hings that we’ve learnt to take for granted – number 284, a relaxing getaway in the sun.

Anyone that is planning a trip abroad must now consider the safety measures that are in place at their choice of destination and, of course, if their trip will be negatively impacted by the ongoing effects of COVID-19.

Never has a short flight been more desirable – two hours and ten minutes to be precise from London Heathrow to Faro, Portugal. Combine this with a short 20 minute transfer to the beautiful Quinta do Lago resort and you have an easy, comfortable pathway to a luxury getaway.

Located in the Algarve, Quinta do Lago offers visitors and residents a family friendly location that has some of the best restaurants in the country ready to greet you (and the kids).

You’d be hard-pressed to find anything that the Quinta do Lago resort doesn’t offer. Within the privacy and security of the Ria Formosa nature reserve, the unique Mediterranean resort allows guests to live a life of full possibilities in the heart of Portugal’s southern coast.

It has beautiful beaches, luxury villas and five-star hotel resorts, sublime dining choices, a world-leading sports & wellbeing facility and great all-year-round weather.

Footballers’ Life visited Quinta do Lago, which has several connections to the footballing world, most recently with Champions League finalists – Paris St Germain utilising The Campus as their pre-final base. The warm and continuous sunshine climate of the Algarve makes it a popular destination for elite sporting teams all year round.

In addition to the world-class sports and wellbeing facilities on offer at The Campus, Quinta do Lago offers so much more.

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Dining Quinta do Lago boasts a variety of top places to wine and dine during your trip.

From Bovino’s, a beautiful steak house through to fine dining at Casa Velha, and everything in between, there is a fantastic choice of cuisine for everyone.

The resort counts 13 first class bars and restaurants to choose from, each with their own unique vibe and experience.

Hotels & A c c o m m o da t i o n Quinta do Lago is perhaps best known for its luxury villas that have, and continues to be home to many celebrities. The late Ayrton Senna made Quinta do Lago his European base and Madonna also owns a property there. The exclusive location has driven demand for property extremely high and there are currently limited options to own your own property within the boundaries of Quinta do Lago. Whilst it is difficult to find an opportunity to purchase a used property, buyers can acquire a plot of land which they can then choose to design their own style of home through the use of an architect of their choice or alternatively choose to take up Quinta do Lago’s extremely popular ‘turn key’ solution which involves using their own designers and contractors to build the property on your behalf.

Golf Courses Some of the very best golf courses in Europe can be found at Quinta do Lago which boasts three championship greens, all of which are maintained to the highest level.

The resort’s south course is currently undergoing a €7m investment programme. As part of the South Course’s major overhaul, all fairways, bunkers, tees and green surrounds will be revamped as well as subtle changes being made to a number of holes to enhance the playing experience.

The improvements will be carried out with sustainable goals in mind and the resort team will work with the Golf Environment Organisation (GEO) Foundation to further enhance its environmental stewardship.

In addition, Quinta do Lago’s other two 18-hole championship courses – the North Course and Laranjal – will also undergo significant maintenance improvements, the resort has invested in a new fleet of state-of-the-art electric golf buggies and golfers can look forward to the reopening of the main clubhouse this summer following an extensive refurbishment.

In addition to the world of villas and private property, Quinta do Lago also has wealth of luxury hotels to choose from. Many of them are owned by major, global hotel groups such as Hilton and Four Seasons, however The Magnolia Hotel which is owned and operated by the resort continues to be highly popular. The Magnolia Hotel is a truly unique design boutique hotel bringing a taste of Palm Springs to the Algarve. This hotel is turning heads with its cool neon signs and quirky hotel design aspects. With an exuberant spirit, the hotel pays homage to the iconic 1950’s motor-hotel aesthetic, offering affordable and stylish accommodation as well as a new energy in the heart of the Algarve. Offering an unbeatable location just moments away from Quinta do Lago, but without the price tag to match, The Magnolia Hotel provides an idyllic base to sample the vast attractions that Quinta do Lago has to offer.

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Premium sports nutrition brand announces

Trent Alexander-Arnold as new global brand ambassador

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rofessional footballer, rising star for Liverpool FC and Premiership champion, Trent Alexander-Arnold, has today announced a global partnership with premium sports nutrition brand, Kinetica Sports.

With a number of achievements under his belt at only 22 years old, Trent is an advocate for all young athletes from beginners to professionals and understands what is needed in order for them to feel and achieve their best.

Through the partnership, Trent will work closely with Kinetica to highlight the benefits of quality sports nutrition for performance and recovery, and how it can support consumers with an active and healthy lifestyle to consistently reach their personal best, no matter their goal or level.

Speaking of the partnership, Trent Alexander-Arnold said: “I’m really excited to be working with Kinetica. As a footballer, sports nutrition is naturally really important to ensure I’m always performing at my best. Kinetica understands what athletes need and it’s great to know I’ve got a range of products I can rely on to help me feel and play my best, both on and off the pitch. I believe it’s something that should be incorporated into every healthy lifestyle, across all sporting abilities and levels, and I hope this partnership will help give sports nutrition greater visibility to a wider audience who may not realise how beneficial it would be to them.”

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As a category that is often misunderstood, the partnership hopes to open up a conversation with a wider consumer base who may be missing out on sports nutrition products and reaping the health and wellness benefits.

Sorcha Madigan, Business President at , commented: “We’re delighted to be working with Trent as his personality and passion has brought a fresh new perspective to the category. While being a world-class player, Trent remains grounded and his dedication to his sport and strong values align perfectly with what we’re all about. Trent really champions our brand values of uncompromising integrity and authenticity.

“We’ll be working with Trent to drive worldwide brand awareness of our World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) batch tested and Informed Sport approved product range through his engaging social media platforms. Now at the top of his profession, Trent has developed an authentic voice that his fans know and love, and he is a perfect fit for us to help educate consumers on the benefits our Kinetica sports nutrition range can bring. We are really excited to have him on board to help us tell this story globally and for what the future holds.”

“

I’m really excited to be working with Kinetica. As a footballer, sports nutrition is naturally really important to ensure I’m always performing at my best.

Kinetica is an established and trusted partner to some of the world’s leading athletes and is constantly working in aid of diversity in sport. Its expertise in nutrition not only draws out that extra one percent in athletes that so often delivers a personal best but lends itself to everyday active consumers seeking best in class supplements.

Kinetica produces a wide range of sports nutrition products to support strength, endurance, wellbeing and recovery. The partnership announcement coincides with Kinetica’s Black Friday campaign, which launced online on Wednesday 25th November 2020.

For more information and to shop the extensive range visit www.kineticasports.com or search Kinetica on Amazon.co.uk.

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Directory Greubel Forsey www.greubelforsey.com

Heads up www.headstogether.org.uk/Heads-Up

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

Bark & Rock www.barkandrock.com

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Alexander James Interior Design www.aji.co.uk

AMT www.amtauto.co.uk

Patek Philippe www.patek.com

David Morris www.davidmorris.com

StockX www.stockx.com

Buckle & Seam www.buckleandseam.com

Sheraton www.marriott.com/mlesi

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Blackphone www.blackphone.co.uk

Snow + Rock www.snowandrock.com

Hastens Beds www.hastens.com

The Luxury Network www.theluxurynetwork.co.uk

Palmer & Parker www.palmerparker.com

USM www.usm.com

Kinetica www.kineticasports.com

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Salomon www.salomon.com

Chanel Joan Elkayam www.chaneljoanelkayam.com

Campbell Marson www.campbellmarson.com

Gaga Milano www.gagamilano.com

Perfectly Attired www.perfectlyattired.co.uk

Bellis Homes www.bellishomes.co.uk

Delphina Hotels www.delphinahotels.co.uk

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Nobis eu.nobis.com

Bamford London www.bamfordlondon.com

Urbanista www.urbanista.com

Bentley www.shop.bentleymotors.com

Marshall www.marshallheadphones.com

Ravn Watches www.ravnwatches.com

Greubel Forsey www.greubelforsey.com

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Swiss Education Group www.swisseducation.com

Warwick Acoustics www.warwickacoustics.com

Weber Barbecues www.weber.com

Arnold & Son www.arnoldandson.com

Marbella Elix www.marbellacollection.gr/marbella-elix/

First Luggage www.firstluggagevip.com

Quinta do Lago www.quintadolago.com

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In this Edition a Special thanks to

Max Nilov Paul Duck Barry Brooks Sean Hunter Tony Simmons

Fraser Reid

David Cronin

Designer

Legal Advisor

Sub Editor

David de Vries

Nathalie Bradbury Quintessentially Editor

Deborah Arthurs

Marcio Quintela

Art Director

Duncan Pratt

Craig Boyland

Founder / Editor in Chief

Lifestyle Director

Fashion Advisor

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

Footballers Life Ltd. cannot accept responsibilty for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken prices and details are subject to change, and Footballers Life Ltd. takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

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

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