It's been New York Fashion week this week, and that got us wondering who the most fashionable men in football are? Here's what we came up with.
MAGNIFICENT MANAGERS
Pep Guardiola: The creative executive Pep Guardiola has learned from Roberto Mancini and Steve Jobs.
At times this season it's been unclear whether Pep is wearing a scarf or the scarf is wearing him. Not satisfied with bettering Roberto Mancini's achievements with Manchester City, the Catalan seems determined to raise the stakes even when it comes to neckwear.
Esquire recently ran a piece claiming "Guardiola is in danger of having his worst [style] season ever" but (with a nod to author Marti Perarnau) the grey crew neck, black bomber jacket vibe is merely the fashion manifestation of his "Evolution."
Suits helped Pep look the part as he transitioned from player to manager at Barcelona. In Munich, he initially looked like a captain industry, never looking out of place in Germany's corporate culture. Now Guardiola is very much in his creative executive phase. At times last season, he spoke about City as if they were a start-up. To see Pep now is to catch a glimpse of Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive at the peak of Apple's inventiveness.
Sinisa Mihajlovic: The Elegantone
The Peaky Blinders flat cap is now a regular feature, if not in dug-outs, then in stands when managers are scouting players or opponents. Guardiola sported one at Mansfield's Field Mill when Cardiff City came to play in January, but no one has owned this look more than Mihajlovic who rocked up at the Bologna Motor Show in December in a pinstripe double breasted suit with a green turtle neck.
Mihajlovic's efforts to get a part in Peaky Blinders continue pic.twitter.com/Pb2NESccp8
- James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) December 10, 2017
This was no one-off either. Mihajlovic's old teammate Mancini takes all the credit for him being the snappiest dresser in Serie A. Mancini was the one who introduced him to the Neapolitan tailor Gianni Marigliano back in 2005 who believes football's gain was modelling's loss because of the Serb's statuesque physique. He carries a suit well.
Marigliano calls him "elegantone" -- big, but elegant -- "a gentleman from a bygone era," which is presumably what Miha set out to achieve with the Peaky Blinders outfit. "He pays attention to the details, like the pocket square in his top pocket," Marigliano said. "And always wants the top [stuff]." Currently out of work, Mihajlovic has some time to think up his next look.
Julian Nagelsmann: The best of Britpop Julian Nagelsmann is clearly a big fan of Oasis.
Most managers these days tend to strut around in their technical area in the same overcoat, usually with a gilet sewn in, but Nagelsmann isn't most managers. Judging by his touchline get-up, he is every bit the 1990s child and could just as easily have grown up in Manchester during the Britpop era as Munich.
Lightweight hooded jackets; parkas; duffel coats; military green field attire. It's almost as if he raided the Gallaghers' wardrobe. Every game is like Glastonbury to Nagelsmann -- apart from the ones when he stands like a respectable new dad pushing a pram, wearing his gilet puffer over crew neck jumper.
SEASONED PROS
Claudio Marchisio: The high society
Now that Andrea Pirlo and Xabi Alonso have retired, the role of elder statesman/midfield sophisticate is up for grabs. Marchisio was born to do this. His nickname (the Prince) is entirely appropriate with the 32-year-old dressing as though European high society is his natural habitat.
Dopo un buon caffè, tutti pronti per l'allenamento. Dopo le varie abbuffate della vigilia e di Natale, si torna concentrati per la prossima gara ✌ï¸