In his day job, Marcel Ries runs his family business (U. Ries et fils), specialising in sheet metal and laser cutting, in the village of Moudon just outside Lausanne. But come May each year, the 57-year-old is thrust into the footballing spotlight, engraving the name of the Champions League winners on the trophy in front of an audience of tens of millions worldwide. Watching the victors being etched in history has become an integral part of the final experience since it was first introduced in 2009 – and so far, only Ries has been entrusted with the job. Here he puts down his diamond-tipped engraving pen to give an insight into life at the sharp end.
Obviously in terms of my work it was easier that it was Chelsea, but it would have been nice to have a new name on the cup.
Since 2009. It wasn’t done before then for UEFA competitions; Michel Platini requested it when he became UEFA president. He said that from 2009 the cups would be engraved on the spot after the game. The first trophy I did was the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul in 2009 – Shakhtar Donetsk were the winners – then Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.
No – I only ever get to watch the first half of games. From half-time I start preparing my materials and I begin preparing the cup, because it’s only at that moment that it comes to me. So, I don’t get to see all the drama.
Of course, I always feel the pressure, but it’s a good pressure. I feel the atmosphere and it’s a magical moment. There was more pressure back at the start in 2009 because I did the engraving in the VIP area and there were a lot of people around me. Now I’m on my own, other than a TV cameraman and a member of the UEFA staff who comes up to confirm who has won so I know for sure what needs to be engraved. Sometimes I feel stressed but it’s always a pleasure to do this job.
Approximately 15 minutes, depending on whether the winning team has a short name such as FC Porto or a longer one like Manchester United FC.
In his day job, Marcel Ries runs his family business (U. Ries et fils), specialising in sheet metal and laser cutting, in the village of Moudon just outside Lausanne. But come May each year, the 57-year-old is thrust into the footballing spotlight, engraving the name of the Champions League winners on the trophy in front of an audience of tens of millions worldwide. Watching the victors being etched in history has become an integral part of the final experience since it was first introduced in 2009 – and so far, only Ries has been entrusted with the job. Here he puts down his diamond-tipped engraving pen to give an insight into life at the sharp end.
Obviously in terms of my work it was easier that it was Chelsea, but it would have been nice to have a new name on the cup.
Since 2009. It wasn’t done before then for UEFA competitions; Michel Platini requested it when he became UEFA president. He said that from 2009 the cups would be engraved on the spot after the game. The first trophy I did was the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul in 2009 – Shakhtar Donetsk were the winners – then Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.
No – I only ever get to watch the first half of games. From half-time I start preparing my materials and I begin preparing the cup, because it’s only at that moment that it comes to me. So, I don’t get to see all the drama.
Of course, I always feel the pressure, but it’s a good pressure. I feel the atmosphere and it’s a magical moment. There was more pressure back at the start in 2009 because I did the engraving in the VIP area and there were a lot of people around me. Now I’m on my own, other than a TV cameraman and a member of the UEFA staff who comes up to confirm who has won so I know for sure what needs to be engraved. Sometimes I feel stressed but it’s always a pleasure to do this job.
Approximately 15 minutes, depending on whether the winning team has a short name such as FC Porto or a longer one like Manchester United FC.
Well, of course, Ajax would be much quicker and practical with the trophy.
I never start before the final whistle.
Lausanne Sport in Switzerland but my favourite club is Bayern München. My father is German and comes from Bavaria.
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It was a special moment.
For engraving, it is the Champions League trophy – it’s iconic. But I also really like the shape of the Europa League trophy, but it is more complicated to engrave.
That’s true. Even though I haven’t won it, I’ve probably had it in my hands more than most players. It’s a mythical trophy – beautiful and magical. Each time it’s a great pleasure. What more can I say? I’m very lucky.
No, I haven’t received one yet!
In his day job, Marcel Ries runs his family business (U. Ries et fils), specialising in sheet metal and laser cutting, in the village of Moudon just outside Lausanne. But come May each year, the 57-year-old is thrust into the footballing spotlight, engraving the name of the Champions League winners on the trophy in front of an audience of tens of millions worldwide. Watching the victors being etched in history has become an integral part of the final experience since it was first introduced in 2009 – and so far, only Ries has been entrusted with the job. Here he puts down his diamond-tipped engraving pen to give an insight into life at the sharp end.
Obviously in terms of my work it was easier that it was Chelsea, but it would have been nice to have a new name on the cup.
Since 2009. It wasn’t done before then for UEFA competitions; Michel Platini requested it when he became UEFA president. He said that from 2009 the cups would be engraved on the spot after the game. The first trophy I did was the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul in 2009 – Shakhtar Donetsk were the winners – then Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.
No – I only ever get to watch the first half of games. From half-time I start preparing my materials and I begin preparing the cup, because it’s only at that moment that it comes to me. So, I don’t get to see all the drama.
Of course, I always feel the pressure, but it’s a good pressure. I feel the atmosphere and it’s a magical moment. There was more pressure back at the start in 2009 because I did the engraving in the VIP area and there were a lot of people around me. Now I’m on my own, other than a TV cameraman and a member of the UEFA staff who comes up to confirm who has won so I know for sure what needs to be engraved. Sometimes I feel stressed but it’s always a pleasure to do this job.
Approximately 15 minutes, depending on whether the winning team has a short name such as FC Porto or a longer one like Manchester United FC.
In his day job, Marcel Ries runs his family business (U. Ries et fils), specialising in sheet metal and laser cutting, in the village of Moudon just outside Lausanne. But come May each year, the 57-year-old is thrust into the footballing spotlight, engraving the name of the Champions League winners on the trophy in front of an audience of tens of millions worldwide. Watching the victors being etched in history has become an integral part of the final experience since it was first introduced in 2009 – and so far, only Ries has been entrusted with the job. Here he puts down his diamond-tipped engraving pen to give an insight into life at the sharp end.
Obviously in terms of my work it was easier that it was Chelsea, but it would have been nice to have a new name on the cup.
Since 2009. It wasn’t done before then for UEFA competitions; Michel Platini requested it when he became UEFA president. He said that from 2009 the cups would be engraved on the spot after the game. The first trophy I did was the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul in 2009 – Shakhtar Donetsk were the winners – then Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.
No – I only ever get to watch the first half of games. From half-time I start preparing my materials and I begin preparing the cup, because it’s only at that moment that it comes to me. So, I don’t get to see all the drama.
Of course, I always feel the pressure, but it’s a good pressure. I feel the atmosphere and it’s a magical moment. There was more pressure back at the start in 2009 because I did the engraving in the VIP area and there were a lot of people around me. Now I’m on my own, other than a TV cameraman and a member of the UEFA staff who comes up to confirm who has won so I know for sure what needs to be engraved. Sometimes I feel stressed but it’s always a pleasure to do this job.
Approximately 15 minutes, depending on whether the winning team has a short name such as FC Porto or a longer one like Manchester United FC.
In his day job, Marcel Ries runs his family business (U. Ries et fils), specialising in sheet metal and laser cutting, in the village of Moudon just outside Lausanne. But come May each year, the 57-year-old is thrust into the footballing spotlight, engraving the name of the Champions League winners on the trophy in front of an audience of tens of millions worldwide. Watching the victors being etched in history has become an integral part of the final experience since it was first introduced in 2009 – and so far, only Ries has been entrusted with the job. Here he puts down his diamond-tipped engraving pen to give an insight into life at the sharp end.
Obviously in terms of my work it was easier that it was Chelsea, but it would have been nice to have a new name on the cup.
Since 2009. It wasn’t done before then for UEFA competitions; Michel Platini requested it when he became UEFA president. He said that from 2009 the cups would be engraved on the spot after the game. The first trophy I did was the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul in 2009 – Shakhtar Donetsk were the winners – then Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.
No – I only ever get to watch the first half of games. From half-time I start preparing my materials and I begin preparing the cup, because it’s only at that moment that it comes to me. So, I don’t get to see all the drama.
Of course, I always feel the pressure, but it’s a good pressure. I feel the atmosphere and it’s a magical moment. There was more pressure back at the start in 2009 because I did the engraving in the VIP area and there were a lot of people around me. Now I’m on my own, other than a TV cameraman and a member of the UEFA staff who comes up to confirm who has won so I know for sure what needs to be engraved. Sometimes I feel stressed but it’s always a pleasure to do this job.
Approximately 15 minutes, depending on whether the winning team has a short name such as FC Porto or a longer one like Manchester United FC.
Well, of course, Ajax would be much quicker and practical with the trophy.
I never start before the final whistle.
Lausanne Sport in Switzerland but my favourite club is Bayern München. My father is German and comes from Bavaria.
It was a special moment.
For engraving, it is the Champions League trophy – it’s iconic. But I also really like the shape of the Europa League trophy, but it is more complicated to engrave.
That’s true. Even though I haven’t won it, I’ve probably had it in my hands more than most players. It’s a mythical trophy – beautiful and magical. Each time it’s a great pleasure. What more can I say? I’m very lucky.
No, I haven’t received one yet!
In his day job, Marcel Ries runs his family business (U. Ries et fils), specialising in sheet metal and laser cutting, in the village of Moudon just outside Lausanne. But come May each year, the 57-year-old is thrust into the footballing spotlight, engraving the name of the Champions League winners on the trophy in front of an audience of tens of millions worldwide. Watching the victors being etched in history has become an integral part of the final experience since it was first introduced in 2009 – and so far, only Ries has been entrusted with the job. Here he puts down his diamond-tipped engraving pen to give an insight into life at the sharp end.
Obviously in terms of my work it was easier that it was Chelsea, but it would have been nice to have a new name on the cup.
Since 2009. It wasn’t done before then for UEFA competitions; Michel Platini requested it when he became UEFA president. He said that from 2009 the cups would be engraved on the spot after the game. The first trophy I did was the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul in 2009 – Shakhtar Donetsk were the winners – then Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.
No – I only ever get to watch the first half of games. From half-time I start preparing my materials and I begin preparing the cup, because it’s only at that moment that it comes to me. So, I don’t get to see all the drama.
Of course, I always feel the pressure, but it’s a good pressure. I feel the atmosphere and it’s a magical moment. There was more pressure back at the start in 2009 because I did the engraving in the VIP area and there were a lot of people around me. Now I’m on my own, other than a TV cameraman and a member of the UEFA staff who comes up to confirm who has won so I know for sure what needs to be engraved. Sometimes I feel stressed but it’s always a pleasure to do this job.
Approximately 15 minutes, depending on whether the winning team has a short name such as FC Porto or a longer one like Manchester United FC.
