The flicks, the tricks, the shocks, the spectacular goals and the new kits on show. Everybody will endeavour to get every angle covered throughout Euro 2020, and The Athletic is no different. But this writer is casting his gaze away from the sharp new strips, new ball and dazzling goals to bring you the latest from the touchline.
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Gareth Southgate’s Marks & Spencer suit caught the eye as England made their run to the 2018 World Cup semi-final, so much so that the retailer had run out of such fits not long after the former Middlesbrough man started wearing it. But what about the rest?
Here is the fashion rundown on every manager across the tournament…
Senol Gunes, Turkey
Woof. That thick black blazer must have hidden some major sweat patches on his white shirt by the time Italy were done with Gunes’ side. Much like Thanksgiving, this Turkey got cooked. And it would not be a surprise if Gunes was feeling the heat under that all-black suit.
The red tie was a nice touch, of course. But with his shirt buttons done all the way up, it was hardly the epitome of cool, calm and collected. His fit, much like Turkey’s performance, looked bland, restrictive and pretty uninspiring…
Roberto Mancini, Italy
A slender figure for a fitted white shirt with a black tie and grey blazer to rest neatly upon. Mancini was the epitome of cool as Italy blew Turkey away 3-0 on the opening night of the tournament, even if his blazer was eventually discarded to the bench as the temperature rose in Rome.
He could be in the movies. Picture him engulfed in a sea of camera flashes as he saunters across a red carpet, sweeping a stray hair from across his face and back into position.
He wears white trainers without socks and it does not look try-hard. Mancini called style “innate” in a recent interview with Esquire magazine — either something you have or something you definitely do not. The 56-year-old certainly has it.
Robert Page, Wales
Page strikes you as more like a rugby coach with his look, and that is no insult. There are no frills here. Bald and with his tattoos on show in a loose, short-sleeved T-shirt with the Wales emblem emblazoned upon it. The black tracksuit bottoms completing the look of a bloke who just loves to coach. The only thing missing was a whistle around his neck.
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That he wore all black in the baking heat of a summer Saturday afternoon in Baku speaks to his intensity.
Vladimir Petkovic, Switzerland
There is a whiff of the politician about Petkovic’s get-up. It is very similar to Gunes in its execution — understated dark suit, a light shirt (just to confirm that he does indeed know it is summer) and another red tie — but with a twist. Look at that square cut at the end. Where do you even buy that?
No, honestly, we’re asking — where do you buy that?
Then, the silver hair just adds a touch of… is sophistication the right word? Maybe not, but Petkovic looks like he would command your respect if he stood behind a podium and flicked through a very boring PowerPoint presentation.
Everything is fitted to a tee, and the gold watch he is rocking is a touch of drip that lets you know he enjoys some of the finer things in life. The suit may be understated, but it is expensive. And don’t you forget it…
Steve Clarke, Scotland
An all-navy suit with a white shirt and no tie. The collar is popped. Clarke looks like a man here for business. However, with his access pass dangling around his neck, it’s fair to ask whether that business is that of a man who hopes you’ll ask what his lanyard is for so he can tell you at great length about the web animation conference he just attended.
It is a small detail, but it gives off a vibe that Scotland are just happy to be here. Clarke should ditch the blazer and lanyard and take a page out of Southgate’s book. Roll the sleeves up. Keep the collar popped.
Gareth Southgate, England
Let’s be honest, the waistcoat get-up of the 2018 World Cup was not as good as we all wanted to believe it was.
Sure, it caught the eye, and Marks & Spencer found they suddenly had a garment hotter than fish grease, but it was a bit too… nice. Prim and proper. Which is fine. But it gave off the vibe that Southgate would be drunk in the middle of a wedding reception dance floor trying to moonwalk and screaming Mr Brightside at the top of his lungs.
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But that’s not this Southgate. This Gareth Southgate is a badass. No blazer, a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a skinny tie. He is all business, no lanyard. He is calm and in control while looking like he is ready to fight at a moment’s notice.
Combine that serious attire with his innate connection with his squad — and society as a whole — and his willingness to speak out against all forms of discrimination, and what you get is a man who radiates the best vibes. Stick a pair of aviator sunglasses on him and he could pass for an Oscar winner.
Zlatko Dalic, Croatia
Dalic is skating around the touchline in a fresh pair of white Nikes. A star for that on its own. Coupled with the sexy, classic and very versatile plain white T-shirt and topped off with a blazer, which was later discarded due to the heat — good call — Dalic was the best thing about Croatia at Wembley on Sunday.
The smart-casual look on the touchline contrasted nicely with his counterpart, Southgate, and his serious, slick attire.
If there is one note, it is that the T-shirt is a bit too big. But loose-fitting in this summer heat is the way to go. The humidity will cook you otherwise.
Frank de Boer, Holland
He may be close to rivalling Mancini for the most handsome manager at this tournament. The 51-year-old looks like he’d smell good. There is just no way you wear a suit so sharp and have a bad odour.
If he was cast as the next James Bond, you probably would not have many questions over his visual suitability for the role.
De Boer has tinkered with all-grey suits and a white shirt in the past (no tie) but has found his calling with this darker colour scheme on his svelte figure.
The slight looseness of the tie was perhaps due to the bonkers nature of Holland’s 3-2 victory over Ukraine. But the slack nature of it gave off a vibe that while he is intense, don’t worry, he can also chill out when required.
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The dark brown suede shoes are a neat little bow to finish off the look with. Comfortable, practical and easy to brush down. With there being no sign of rain in the Netherlands, there was no danger of soaking them through. He thought about the footwear as much as he did the suit — an often-underappreciated part of putting a look together.
Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine
The former AC Milan striker’s touchline duel with De Boer on Sunday formed what must have been the match-up of the sharpest-dressed managers.
It’s Andriy Shevchenko in a black suit and a white shirt. What more do you want?
That he has retained his youthful good looks into his mid 40s is sickening, too.
Luis Enrique, Spain
What fresh hell is this? No issues with the plain white shirt — that passes the eye test. It’s a classic. That Enrique teamed it with a pair of Adidas Originals is also not an issue. In fact, this all sounds very “modern man”. He even went the extra mile and wore no socks, so you know it’s summer. Two ticks for all of this.
But wait… are those… cargo pants? All right. We are done here. The huge pockets at the front with big, bulky black buttons. Yes, they are probably very breathable, but was that really the only trouser option available when putting this look together?
Why does the torso say business, the shoes say business-casual and let’s get a beer afterwards, and the trousers say three-day hike?
Enrique blamed a dry pitch for Spain’s 0-0 draw with Sweden, not sure what he is blaming for drying out his own attire.
Janne Andersson, Sweden
A nice, loose-fitting white shirt with the top button undone. Black trousers and shiny shoes.
Simple and safe.
Not much else to add, really.
Kasper Hjulmand, Denmark
The jumper-over-a-shirt look is a bit old and played-out now. Fashion is not Hjulmand’s strong point, nor should it be. He is a man who is paid to win matches of football. Any extra frills are just that, frills.
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It is inoffensive and perfectly acceptable for a man who will turn 50 next year. But he could always ask Mancini or De Boer for some tips.
Markku Kanerva, Finland
Yes. Yes to all of this. The three-piece suit, the dark brown suede Oxford shoes — always Oxfords, not brogues. Kanerva looks like he could star in a Scandinavian version of The Kingsman.
The pants are a little baggy, but that is not a criticism. In an age of skinny-this and fitted-that, it is nice to have something loose-fitting once in a while. Especially in the summer heat, and especially if you are wearing layers on the torso.
Full marks.
Paulo Sousa, Poland
Yeah. Sousa is the coolest person at any wedding he attends. Brown leather Oxfords, tan chinos with the crispiest of white shirts and a navy blazer. Tied together (pun intended) by a lovely blue tie with specs of white and red.
That he is a rather handsome man is a bonus. But this whole fit screams summer suit, and we’re here for it.
Stefan Tarkovic, Slovakia
WHAT ARE THOSE?! Tarkovic breaks out his best three-piece suit for the start of the Euros and it is a yes from us. The blazer and waistcoat are working for him.
What is absolutely not working is pairing a check-pattern waistcoat with a black tie laced with big, white polka dots.
And then there are the shoes. Casual, low-top, black trainers with white trim have become standard garb for most football pundits and managers. But usually, they are worn with a more casual vibe all-round.
If you are going to wear the waistcoat and the blazer (which is a little too baggy, but we’ll allow it), then surely complete the look with a smart pair of shoes? Tarkovic has ordered the lobster thermidor and then washed it down with a Snickers.
Roberto Martinez, Belgium
Black Oxfords polished to a mirror shine, slightly loose-fitting suit with matching tie and a white shirt. Martinez is a snappy dresser. Nothing fancy. Just classic, done well.
Stanislav Cherchesov, Russia
Seems the “Gareth Southgate’s waistcoat” vibe really caught on. Cherchesov’s bulky frame carries off the look well though. Understated, just like his team.
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Again, though, can we please lose the lanyard? Lanyards are not cool. Only people who wear them think they are cool. And they are not.
Franco Foda, Austria
The casual trainers with the white trim are back. But they look much more at home on Foda’s feet with his casual navy suit. How it should be, and the very definition of smart-casual.
Nothing exciting. But a safe option that everybody can work with.
Igor Angelovski, North Macedonia
Are those Tessuti shoes you are rocking, Mr Angelovski? Fair play if so. Kept those quiet. The thin white strip that runs right across the bottom of the shoe though is rather disarming. It feels like the line should be thicker or not there at all.
We have to talk about the tie. Screams school teacher. But I suppose football managers are teachers and the pitch is their classroom (as well as actual meeting rooms too).
Jaroslav Silhavy, Czech Republic
Major ‘antique dealer’ vibes from the 59-year-old. Tall, slender figure rocking a dark, check-patterned suit, black shirt and offering a splash of colour with light brown leather brogues. Super simple. Super slick.
Fernando Santos, Portugal
He gives off major undertaker vibes (not The Undertaker). There is something rather sober about Santos’ gear. Something classic, too. He is serious. Perhaps it is the frown that makes his black and white combo look more menacing than other managers rocking a similar combo. Either way, he is managing the reigning champions. He can wear what he wants. And he chose the mafia look.
Marco Rossi, Hungary
A bald manager. Here for it. As the only bald head coach at Euro 2020, Rossi carries this staunch demeanour. A slim fitted navy suit, black Oxfords and tie with a crisp white shirt has it all working for him. Somewhere, Bruce Willis is jealous.
Didier Deschamps, France
Royal blue suit, black shoes with a nice black leather belt for the trimmings and navy shirt underneath. Deschamps understands his silver fox nature and leans into it with darker fits. The contrast is outstanding. There is an air of the mafia boss about him, too. He could easily roll in the same circles as Ray Liotta in Goodfellas. It’s slick, the blues representing the primary colour of his nation. The style he carries with him off the pitch is matched by the sauce Les Bleus drip on it.
Joachim Low, Germany
What the flick happened, Joachim? You used to be cool, man. You used to be an icon. We even forgave your scratch-and-sniff tendencies because you were the man. Now, we’re not so sure.
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The plain T-shirts (which he absolutely bought as a four-pack), the grey chinos, the white kicks. Nothing about the outfit is offensive. But Low feels like he lacks the charisma or energy to make it look a fire fit like he once did.
He went from sneaky cool to withered. Sort of like his team. At least already-lined-up successor Hansi Flick offers the German side a touch more drip.
(Photos: Getty Images/Design: Sam Richardson)
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