Football manager Roy Hodgson spotted wearing a Rolex

Roy Hodgson was photographed sporting a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLRO shortly after being named Crystal Palace's interim manager, tasked with steadying the club through the remainder of the Premier League season. The sighting is a quiet but telling detail — the GMT-Master II is a watch long associated with seasoned professionals who log serious air miles, and few football men have accumulated a more globe-spanning CV than Hodgson, who has managed clubs and national teams across Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Denmark, and beyond.

The 126710BLRO sits at the top of the GMT-Master II stainless steel hierarchy. Introduced at Baselworld 2018, it resolved one of the most persistent frustrations in the collector community: for decades, the beloved two-tone red-and-blue 'Pepsi' ceramic bezel had been reserved exclusively for white gold variants. Rolex's Cerachrom ceramic technology finally allowed the bi-colour insert to be produced in steel-compatible form, and the result was an instant sensation. The watch runs on Rolex's in-house Calibre 3285, a 70-hour power reserve movement with the brand's Chronergy escapement, offering exceptional accuracy and reliability. It is presented on a five-link Oyster bracelet with an Oysterlock clasp, sized at 40mm — unchanged from its predecessor, the 116710BLRO.

From a collector standpoint, the 126710BLRO is one of the most coveted references in the modern Rolex catalogue. Waiting lists at authorised dealers stretched to years at peak demand, and grey-market premiums reflect that pressure consistently. The 'Pepsi' nickname derives from the cola brand's matching red-and-blue colour palette, and the bezel's pop-culture legibility has made it a crossover hit far beyond traditional watch circles.

Hodgson, 76 at the time of his Palace appointment, has long been a discreet but considered dresser — the kind of figure who favours quality over ostentation. The GMT-Master II 126710BLRO fits that profile precisely: recognisable to those who know watches, understated enough not to distract from the job at hand.

At list price, the 126710BLRO retails at approximately $10,700 USD. On the current grey market, the reference commands roughly $22,600 USD — a premium of more than double retail that shows little sign of softening, reflecting the enduring demand for what many consider Rolex's most iconic contemporary sports reference.