manchester united

Hublot King Power Red Devil Watch For Manchester United

For the third time Swiss watch brand Hublot and UK Football team Manchester United come together for a special limited edition watch. The two have been in a long standing partnership, and the fruits of their efforts should appeal to more than just sports fans. This new watch however should be a particular treat for Manchester United fans. For one thing, part of the watch comes from the actual Old Trafford stadium. Look closely at the hour markers - these applied elements are a bit green in tone. They are actually made of the famous grass from the stadium. Hublot experimented with how to do this and finally came up with a process that involves freeze drying and then lacquering segments of the grass. They almost look like "sod crystals."

The 48mm wide watch is based on the King Power collection and comes in two case materials. A limited edition version of 500 pieces comes in black matte ceramic, while a 250 piece limited edition will come in 18k King gold. Don't know what King gold is? Neither do I, but it is likely some new gold alloy that Hublot will be using on its King Power timepieces. One new element to the case design is the chronograph pushers that now have a special security bar over them for style and protection.

Inside the watch is a special chronograph movement for measuring soccer game halves. It is the HUB4245 skeletonized automatic chronograph with centrally mounted chronograph hands. Plus, the chronograph measures up to 45 minutes - the length of a football game half. The dial also has a bright red Manchester United Devil mascot figure that looks great with the overall theme. Attached to the strap is a new style of rubber bracelet with fun red strip in the middle. Each of the Hublot King Power Red Devil watches will come specially signed by Manchester United's own Sir Alex Ferguson - this is probably one of the best watches ever for a soccer team. Look for them soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews website aBlogtoRead.com

Gallery: Hublot King Power Red Devil Watch

Tags: 716.CI.1129.RX.MAN11, hublot, king power, manchester united, red devil, watch

Most Expensive Soccer Player, Wayne Rooney, Celebrates In Dubai

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Soccer star Wayne Rooney may not be as internationally famous as David Beckham or even Cristiano Ronaldo but Rooney, who plays for Manchester United, has something they don't, the title of world's most expensive soccer player. After a series of negotiations which nearly had him setting off for greener pastures, Rooney has received an £8million-a-year pay rise to stay with his team.

The Daily Mail reports that Rooney and his wife Colleen went to Dubai to celebrate, spending a few days on vacation in the seven star Burj Al Arab, one of the world's most lavish hotels. The Daily Mail has pictures of the pair relaxing in the hotel pool. The trip raised eyebrows because Rooney's teammates were playing back at home (he's currently on the injured list); and because the couple also left their baby at home, fueling speculation that the trip was also a little much-needed marital repair.

Tags: manchester united, most expensive soccer player, wayne rooney

Soccer Star Ronaldo's Porsche for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping, Sports

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo's black-on-black Porsche 911 convertible (above) is being offered for sale in the UK. As we reported back in January, the champion athlete who is set to play for Real Madrid after his club Manchester United accepted a record £80 million bid last week, totaled his Ferrari but walked away unscathed. The car on offer is a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic S which Ronaldo bought in 2007, the UK Auto Trader reports.

It's just one of a fleet of supercars which have been owned by the 24-year-old, who mainly drives a Bentley Continental GT Speed these days. The Porsche can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 177 mph. It has only 16,000 miles on it and is priced at £69,995 or about $115,000. Ronaldo was recently snapped canoodling with Paris Hilton in Las Vegas celebrating his new contract.

Tags: convertible, Cristiano Ronaldo, CristianoRonaldo, Ferrari, Manchester United, ManchesterUnited, Porsche, Porsche 911, Porsche911, soccer, sports star, SportsStar

Manchester United Seeks New Deep-Pocketed Sponsor

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Remember AIG's shirt deal with soccer team Manchester United? AIG had a four-year $100 million deal which runs until 2010 but will not be renewing, leaving the team with the prospect of finding a new sugar daddy and it's looking like it has set its sights on India. India's Sahara Group is in talks with Manchester United to become the new shirt sponsors. Sahara, an unlisted group with interests from financial services to real estate, sees it as a way to encourage Indian soccer players and fans. For the team, it represents a chance to expand their global fanbase. This seems to be a growing trend in sports, that a team has fans that spread far beyond the hometown, but nowhere is it more true in European football which, although not big in the U.S., truily is a global sport.

Reuters reports that another Indian conglomerate, Tata group also received a sponsorship proposal from Manchester United back in March. The Sahara deal will likely be similar to AIG's contract and in the same price range. Sahara's Subrata Roy is expected to be in London on June 5 to finalize the deal.

Tags: aig, india, manchester united, ManchesterUnited, sahara, soccer

Manchester United Shirts Add To AIG Outrage

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Washington continues to express outrage over AIG's $165 million in bonuses but AIG has another bill to pay, for its contract with soccer team Manchester United. Like some companies which pay for naming rights for stadiums, AIG signed a contact in 2006 for a four-year deal with the British team to have AIG on their shirts. Cityfile reports that while the company has said they won't renew the deal, they haven't canceled the existing contract which means that Manchester United could get $28 million more from the team before the original contract ends in May 2010.

The deal was originally made by then Chief Executive Martin Sullivan who wanted AIG to be a name recognized worldwide by partnering with one of the world's most popular sports teams. BNET has a cheeky suggestion on what the American people should request from AIG in regards to this deal. They say that since we own 80 percent of AIG we could have the shirts changed to say "United States United" or even USA. Of course, BNET's Ed Leefeldt also says maybe it's time to give a name change to "Citi Field" which received millions from struggling Citigroup. Good luck with that.

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Tags: aig, manchester united, ManchesterUnited, soccer

Dolce & Gabbana Tailors Italian Nat'l Soccer Team

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Sports, Men's Style

To celebrate the 2008 European Cup soccer tournament, dashing designers Dolce & Gabbana have created a stylish new wardrobe for the Italian National Football Team ("Nazionale"). Italy debuted today in the fiercely-competitive 16-nation tournament at the Stade de Suisse in Berne, Switzerland. Dolce & Gabbana custom-tailored natty narrow-lapeled one-button dark blue suits with the Nazionale badge embroidered on the breast pocket, classic white shirts and solid narrow blue silk ties for the team. Filling out their off-pitch wardrobe are blue single-breasted peak-lapel blazers, matching four-button vests, blue cotton and wool hooded track suit tops, blue cotton track suit bottoms with satin belts and sides, and black nylon padded parkas with multiple pockets and detachable hoods. The collaboration is the latest in a line of recent designer makeovers for famed European football (soccer) teams, including Giorgio Armani for the Chelsea F.C. and Paul Smith for Manchester United. See the gallery for more.

Gallery: Designer Football

A Manchester United blazer from the '50s.

Tags: Dolce Gabbana, DolceGabbana, European Cup, EuropeanCup, Giorgio Armani, GiorgioArmani, Italy, Manchester United, ManchesterUnited, Paul Smith, PaulSmith, Soccer

Manchester United's United Opus

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Sports

The ultimate present for soccer fans might be the the massive United Opus which celebrates the history of the Manchester United soccer team. The 850-page book is a limited edition of 10,000 each signed by Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton. The book even includes a list of the top players to ever play for the team (David Beckham comes in 14th). Each book weighs over 75 pounds and sells for around $5,850.

[via The Plain Dealer]

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Tags: football, manchester united, soccer, united opus