Arsene Wenger’s coat
The Arsenal manager’s FA Cup win this weekend was surely helped along by a certain knee-length padded jacket that saw him through many mid-week winter matches, pacing in the dugout, arms crossed, sometimes scowling in an Eagle from the Muppets manner. The trademark coat, and its troublesome zip, has become something of a cult item for Arsenal fans. Created this season by sponsors Puma, it was even available to buy for your own Wenger moment. A jacket with, to use a Wengerism, a lot of quality.
Dick Advocaat’s scarf
Only with Sunderland for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it two-month stay, Advocaat nevertheless managed to make his impact not only by keeping the team in the Premier League, but also with excellent accessorising. His ribbed beige scarf – which he dubbed “lucky” after a win against Newcastle – was rarely away from his neck. Teamed with sharp knee-length coats and crisp white shirts, in fashion terms it is the equivalent of a top-six finish.
Tony Pulis’s baseball cap
A baseball-capped Tony Pulis on the touchline has become a familiar fixture for football fans – so much so that seeing him without it for post-match comments is a bit like seeing him naked. No surprise – the manager has made it a part of his touchline wardrobe since he first worked with Gillingham in 1995. Now at West Brom, it’s such a Pulis thing that the the club sold out of navy baseball caps when he was appointed in January.
Nigel Pearson’s tracksuit
Nigel Pearson’s remarkable achievement of keeping Leicester City in the Premier League is perhaps only overshadowed by his equally remarkable ability to stay in a tracksuit for an entire season. While most managers alternate between track and smart suit, the former works for Pearson’s no-nonsense approach, where a shift with players at the training ground is prioritised over anything that might require a tie and shoes. He has taken it on board, even describing himself as a “tracksuit manager”. Expect more trackies next season.
Garry Monk’s hair
Everyone knows about football players’ haircuts. But, apart from maybe Jose Mourinho’s salt and pepper crop and Manuel Pellegrini’s feathered waves, it is pretty much a uniform of short back and sides for the sidelines. Enter Garry Monk, the Swansea City manager who at 36 is a spring chicken, and his proper haircut. A bit like a mixture of Olivier Giroud’s sidesweep and Jack Grealish’s spiky peak, it is a quiet but interesting addition to sideline style. A bit like Monk himself, really.