Hublot - Jose Mourinho, new ambassador
Watching the flash bulbs pop, with journalists jostling each other to get a bit closer and fans wanting to have their pictures taken with him, one cannot help thinking that a Jose Mourinho at the peak of his career is a bigger draw for the media and the public than many a pretty young star.
But is not the role of the perfect ambassador to ensure that everyone looks at the brand that he or she represents? A successful gamble for Hublot then, which officialised its friendly ties with the man known as 'The Special One' during a visit to its Manufacture in Nyon.
The new partnership between Jose Mourinho and Hublot has nothing to do with luck. Prior to signing the contract, there was a deep friendship. For a number of years, Jose Mourinho has been a Hublot fan, wearing Hublot watches on the field and in everyday life. And above all, he doesn't hide it. This is a blessing according to Jean-Claude Biver, president of the brand, who recognises that it is "better to have a convinced ambassador than a paid one".
Convinced is certainly the word for Jose Mourinho. The straight-talking - often big-mouthed - coach has a tendency to be irreverent. So when he tells you that he wears Hublot watches because he likes them, one believes him without questioning the statement. "It's true, I bought Hublot watches long before becoming an ambassador" emphasises the Portuguese coach. "Apart from anything else it is more important to me to be a friend of the brand than an ambassador."
Hublot's CEO, Ricardo Guadalupe agrees. "A story of friendship, of b human relationships - that is what is important today. So we are simply delighted to welcome a great personality, a major figure in the football world with whom we share the same values of passion, family and success."
Success. Taking a look at Jose Mourinho's career, the term is certainly not an exaggeration. The holder of a Masters' degree in Law, Economics and Sports Management from the University of Lisbon, he is considered by many fans and observers to be the best football tactician in the world. His victories speak for themselves. He has trained the greatest teams (FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid), and led them to victory at the National Championships of their respective countries as well as in their National Cups.
He won the UEFA Cup and two Champions League titles with FC Porto and Inter Milan. In 2011, he was awarded the first "FIFA Coach of the Year Prize". Back with the English club Chelsea in 2013, he became the coach to reach the 100-victory mark in the English Premier League in the fastest time to date. As success often breeds success, Jean-Claude Biver ,who had the flair to become the first watch brand manager to venture into the field of football, has now gained a friend, an ambassador, as well as additional visibility. The famous Hublot "win-win" approach has a bright future ahead of it.