Watch Paparazzi

Football manager Brendan Rogers spotted wearing IWC

Post-match press conferences rarely double as watch-spotting opportunities, but Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers provided one during the 2013-14 Premier League campaign. Cameras caught a glimpse of a distinctly blue-dialled chronograph beneath his cuff — quickly identified as the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Special Edition, one of the more purposeful limited releases of that era.

The watch — reference IW390213 — was built on the same architectural DNA as the standard Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph but differentiated by its vivid blue sunburst dial, applied hour indices with luminous fill, and a dramatically contrasting red-tipped central chronograph seconds hand. The rubber strap with textile inlay replaced the standard bracelet options, underscoring the piece's nautical brief. Power comes from IWC's in-house Calibre 89361, a column-wheel flyback chronograph movement with a 68-hour power reserve — a mechanically serious proposition by any measure.

The Laureus connection elevates the piece beyond a cosmetic variant. IWC has partnered with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation since 2005, and the 2013 edition channelled a portion of proceeds toward sport-based social development programmes worldwide. Limited production figures were never officially disclosed by IWC, but market availability remained tight, making examples genuinely collectible rather than artificially scarce.

Rodgers wore the piece during one of the most emotionally charged seasons in Liverpool's modern history — the 2013-14 campaign that came agonisingly close to ending the club's league title drought. His choice of a sport-philanthropy crossover watch feels contextually apt for a manager who consistently framed football in terms of community and purpose.

On the secondary market, the Laureus 2013 edition commands a modest premium over equivalent standard-production Yacht Club Chronographs from the same period, reflecting its limited nature and the integrity of the Laureus branding. Retail at launch was approximately £9,000 in the UK. Grey market values have settled in the $10,000–$13,000 range depending on condition and box-and-papers completeness — a reasonable entry point for a mechanically accomplished IWC with a strong provenance narrative.