Today is the 23^rd, and 23 is a special number for Shinji Kagawa as this is his jersey number when playing the games of the Bundesliga. This afternoon, at Omotesando, in a special TAG Heuer football field set in the heart of Trend and Fashion of Tokyo, TAG Heuer Global Sales Vice-President Luc Decroix proudly welcomed Shinji Kagawa - Japanese MF football player & member of the Japan National team - as the newest member of the prestigious TAG Heuer family.

His play agility, technique and creativeness in passing and attacking, his boldness and vision of this goal-scoaring midfielder are totally endorsing the #DontCrackUnderPressure mindset of TAG Heuer.

Celebrating the new collaboration and to raise funds towards Kumamoto children, Shinji Kagawa showcased his sports talent under his first #DontCrackUnderpressure challenge through an original “FOOTBOWLING” game. The issue of the game was easy to foresee with this brilliant ambassador befitting the strong spirit of TAG Heuer. Strike with 1 shoot ! 

Keeping on with your dreams and #DontCrackUnderPressure whatever happens – the message Shinji Kagawa aims to share with the Japanese kids, will be for this very 1^st challenge specifically addressed to the Kumamoto region, tragically hit by an earthquake. As a concrete seal of this collaboration, Luc Decroix offered the iconic TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer-01 Manufacture Chronograph to the new ambassador.

A few words about Shinji Kagawa

He was born in 1989 in the city of Kobe, where he started to play football at the age of 5. His dream was from the beginning to become a football player but the path was full of pitfalls ; he and his family experienced at home the terrible earthquake of Kobe in January 1995 that has totally devastated the city. However, this terrible experience didn’t stop him to pursue his dream. On contrary it turned to be a decisive moment to build his daring yet tempered spirit.

He became the youngest Japanese professional player to sign a contract with the Jleague team, Cerezzo Osaka in 2006 before graduating from High School.

In 2010, he signed a contract with the Borossia Dortmund (Bundesliga) and immediately showed outstanding performance during the games. His contribution was a key element to make his team become champion of the season.

In 2012, he was transferred to Manchester United, which made him the first Japanese player to play in this team. Following year, after becoming the first Asian player to play a hat-trick in a Premier League, he won with Manchester United the championship and became also the first Japanese player to get this title.

A few words about TAG Heuer & Football

From last year, TAG Heuer enhanced its presence in global sports, and football in particular, becoming Official Timekeeper for major prestigious football leagues and competitions.

TAG Heuer is globally developing strong and key partnerships in the world of football, already Official Timekeeper of the German Bundesliga, of the England Premier League, the North American MLS (Major League Soccer), of the Chinese Football Association Soccer League, the 2016 Copa America and the Australian National Football team. On the field, the fourth official's boards are now shaped like a TAG Heuer Carrera watch with a tachometer scale, and bear the name of the Swiss watch brand. For the next season,the British referees also sport the new TAG Heuer Connected smartwatch, developed by the Swiss brand in conjunction with Intel and Google Android Wear, with a dedicated app.

The legendary Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the ambassadors of TAG Heuer since 2014, and today with Leicester City coach & Premier League Champion Claudio Ranieri, and now Shinji Kagawa, it is another star which is joining the football galaxy of the brand.

This collaboration with Shinji seals the important and strong involvement in football of TAG Heuer. It is also key in the promotion of the brand in Asia and in the whole world.