Fabio Cannavaro
Purnell is thrilled to welcome the international football legend and 2006 Ballon d’Or winner, Fabio Cannavaro, as its first “Brand Hero.”
Italian professional football coach (Benevento) & 2006 Ballon d’Or™ Winner
Fabio Cannavaro has always been the driver of his own destiny. Until the age of 19, when he joined Napoli, his boyhood club where Diego Maradona had triumphed a decade earlier, he had only played football in the streets of his native Naples. He forged ahead with confidence and humility, winning the hearts of Italian fans, to become captain of the Italian national football team in 2002. His was an astonishing ascent for a defensive center-back player who is not ordinarily given a chance to shine. But there was nothing common about Fabio Cannavaro’s unique play style. His fast accelerations followed by weightless leaps brought roaring football fans to their feet. With extraordinary speed and precision, the defender became a hero on the football field.
In 2006, he led Italy to victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, establishing himself as a homegrown Italian star and becoming the 2006 FIFA World Player. To this day, Fabio Cannavaro is still the last defensive football player to have won the Ballon d’Or.
Fabio Cannavaro has distinguished himself by his extraordinary performance on and off the field, by aspiring to make football a unifying force around the globe. His inspirational qualities and passion for fine watchmaking contributed to Purnell’s decision to invite the football legend to become its first “Brand Hero.”
– Maurizio Mazzocchi, CEO of Purnell“If you love Italian football, you can only admire Fabio Cannavaro as one of the greatest defenders of all time. His incredible speed and gravity-defying jumps are forever engraved in football history. What resonated with us as makers of exceptional high-velocity tourbillons was his uniquely modern style and his high-flying performance. We are thrilled to welcome Fabio as Purnell’s first ‘Brand Hero.’”
– Fabio Cannavaro, Ballon d’Or™ 2006 Winner & Purnell Brand Hero Saint-Germain“Football is about time and space. When I wear a Purnell watch, I can’t help but be fascinated with the speed and performance of its tourbillons, enhanced by a unique design.”