Whilst many football players in the lower leagues toil away in relative obscurity, for the star players of the top European leagues the wages are beyond the dreams of most. The ranks of the Premiership and Spanish La Liga are stuffed with foreign players. These international stars are able to command substantial salaries.
Where to spend it though? Well one area where players splash their cash is on watches. Whilst some famous names by the brands from companies such as The Watch Hut, many of the stars revel in exceptionally high end models that will definitely not be seen on the high street.
Didier Drogba Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph
Drogba may have shocked with his move to the Shanghai Senhua but his choice of watch is almost as exotic. Drogba’s wears an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph. The watch has been customised for the former Chelsea Vice-Captain with over 450 diamonds.
This customisation has increased the price of the watch to the £51,000 mark. The watch may be expensive, but compared with his rumoured £200,000 a week salary its probably the equivalent of most of us buying a high end Seiko.
Alongside stunning looks, the inside of the case incorporates a second inner casing that protects the movement from magnetism. It can withstand electro-magnetic fields of up to 24,000 A/h.
A similar watch is now worn by Barcelona Star Leo Messi although you will also likely see many of his Barcelona team mates wearing Seiko watches. The Japanese brand is a firm favourite at The Watch Hut and became the official watch partner of the Catalan club in 2011.
Hublot King Power Red Devil Limited Edition
Back in the Premiership, Hublot is the choice for the masters of merchandising at Manchester United. The North West based club has its own official watch produced by the Geneva watchmaker, the Hublot King Power Red Devil.
The timepiece is currently in its third limited edition incarnation since its initial release in 2008. It has an unusual chronograph that supporters of many other clubs would think a benefit at Old Trafford. The function is designed to measure the 45 minutes of each half of the game.
The skeletal watch features a ‘Red Devils’ logo at 3pm and contains freeze-dried and lacquered grass from the Old Trafford pitch is incorporated in to the indexes.
Whilst many clubs also offer a range of cheaper watches for supporters, it is clear that a demand exists for these more expensive pieces from players and fans alike.
