Aren't footballers the ultimate ambassadors of chic? Young, stylish, often goodlooking and very, very rich. Now, for the first time, the Italian football team has turned its back on its wealth of native talent and chosen a British designer to create its off-pitch wardrobe for Euro 2004.

Italian fashion pundits labeled the deal with Devon-born Neil Barrett the end of an era. The 37-year-old pushed aside top names such as Giorgio Armani, who kits out the England team, and Pal Zileri to wind the deal, said to be worth GBP200,000. In another first, sportswear giant Puma also chose Barrett to draw up the team's strip for the tournament. Miles Freeland, a spokesman for Barrett, said: "It's fantastic news. It is a real coup for him. Everyone is delighted, non more so than Neil."

Freeland further added: "Some of the Italians are a little bit upset and, if we can beat them in the final it would be a double victory." Barrett trained at the Royal College of Art and spent five years with Gucci before moving to Prada. He now has his own label with branches in Milan, London and Tokyo.

16 January 2004