Football manager Andrea Pirlo spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Andrea Pirlo was photographed wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph reference 5980/1A following Juventus's hard-fought 2-1 Champions League semi-final win over Real Madrid — a result that underlined his side's European credentials and gave the watch sighting an appropriately high-stakes backdrop.

The Patek Philippe 5980/1A debuted in 2006 as the first Aquanaut to incorporate a chronograph complication, and Patek chose to go further still by adding a travel time function, making it a genuine dual complication sports watch. The case measures 40.5mm in stainless steel with the Aquanaut's signature rounded octagonal bezel and embossed composite strap. Water resistance is rated to 120 metres — serious enough for a watch that also carries one of haute horlogerie's most respected movements.

At its heart sits the calibre CH 28-520 HU, a manufacture automatic movement with a column wheel, horizontal clutch, and flyback chronograph mechanism. The travel time display uses a 24-hour subdial to distinguish day from night in the second time zone — a genuinely practical arrangement. Power reserve stands at approximately 55 hours. The salmon-toned dial on the 5980/1A variant, with its characteristic embossed check pattern, gives the piece an identity that is immediately recognisable without being loud.

Among collectors, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph 5980 occupies a particularly strong position. It bridges Patek's more formal complications with a sports-orientated case, and the stainless steel references have historically commanded premiums over the brand's own gold versions — a reversal of the traditional hierarchy that speaks to the steel sports watch market's sustained momentum. The 5980/1A has been discontinued in its original form, which has only tightened supply.

Pirlo's affinity for quality watchmaking is well established, and the 5980/1A suits his aesthetic: understated at a glance, technically serious on closer inspection. Retail pricing sat at approximately £34,000 in the UK market, though grey-market values have moved considerably higher as demand for steel Patek sports references shows no sign of cooling.