Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp has a few reasons to smile, including a new watch purchase

Matt Pickering

Elite athletes seem to be taking more and more interest in our little corner of the world. From LeBron James sporting the AP Black Panther Concept Watch, Liverpool teammates Jordan Henderson and Virgil Van Dyk visiting the AP manufacture to NFL legend Tom Brady taking a stake in HODINKEE, many high-profiles athletes are packing serious wristwear. The world’s leading football managers are no exception.

If you’re a fan of world football, then you’d be aware that Liverpool Football Club are in the middle of a purple patch of form and results not seen since the glory days of the mid-eighties. Despite drawing with Tottenham at the weekend, the club is still on track for an unprecedented four major trophies this season and a huge part of this success is down to their talismanic manager, Jurgen Klopp. After joining the club in 2015, Klopp has overseen the most successful period in the club’s modern history.

As a Liverpool fan myself, I was thrilled to hear that Klopp recently put pen to paper on an extension that will see him remain at the club until 2026. But I was also excited by what I saw on his wrist for Liverpool’s next big game. Jurgen isn’t exactly stoic on the sidelines and can invariably be seen wildly yelling instructions or celebrating throughout the game. All of this gesticulating provides a great view of what’s on his wrist.

Klopp had mainly been seen wearing his IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition ‘50 Years Aquatimer’ almost exclusively during his time at Liverpool. At 49mm, this definitely won’t fit under a shirt cuff but seemed to match Klopp’s typical match day get-up in a club branded tracksuit. The 49mm case of this IWC Aquatimer houses multiple complications that include an unusual perpetual calendar in which the date, month and leap-year indication are all represented digitally. Made out of IWC’s Ceratanium alloy (a special combo of titanium and ceramic), only 50 of these models were made. That rarity value feels somehow fitting for a true maverick genius like Klopp.

This piece had been present on his wrist almost every match day over the last seven or so seasons, until Liverpool’s showdown with Newcastle United last week. But during his side’s 1-0 win, Klopp was seen wearing the Big Pilot’s Watch Monopusher Edition “Le Petit Prince” (check out our full write up of the piece here). The 46.2 mm stainless case is an icon in watch design, originally made to be worn over the sleeve of a flight jacket in an open cockpit. Likewise, the oversized crown was a practical choice, so that gloved hands could set the time more easily. And the crown in this edition is the big story, because apart from the usual functions of winding and time setting, it controls all three functions of the chronograph. 

We think it’s a fitting choice for this modern day super coach. And, while not an offical IWC ambassador, if Liverpool do go on to win all four major trophies this season, then we think he deserves to indulge himself with another commemorative purchase to celebrate this unprecedented achievement for a Premier League club. Given his staunch brand loyalty, perhaps an IWC Jurgen Klopp edition could even be a possibility in the years to come? Either way, however his watch box expands and whatever the eventual outcome of Liverpool’s season, Klopp will no doubt still be smiling on the touchline for a couple years to come.