Former Arsenal ace Stephan Lichtsteiner starts new career as trainee watchmaker

Stephan Lichtsteiner liked to make it look like he had plenty of time while on the ball for the likes of Juventus and Arsenal.

And now the former defender is ensuring he keeps an eye on the clock having begun a six-month internship with a watchmaker.

Lichtsteiner has hung up his boots with the former Switzerland captain joining up with Zurich firm Maurice de Mauriac.

“I want to do something productive,” the 37-year-old said. “If you are a banker… you can do that for all your life, but if you are a footballer once you hit your mid 30s, you have to find something else to do.

“I see some similarities to football. In football if not all the team is perfect you will not win.

“It's the same with a watch, if everything is not perfectly in place the watch is not going to work.”

Lichtsteiner plans to make a watch during his internship to sell on for charity as he is open to the idea of becoming a full-time watchmaker.

And company owners Leonard and Massimo Dreifuss are hoping they can build a long-term relationship with the former football star.

“We had lots of applications but Stephan was the most enthusiastic,” said art director Leonard, with Lichtsteiner becoming their first trainee.

“We are aiming for a long-term partnership and will move step by step,” added CEO Massimo.

Lichtsteiner started his career at Grasshopper back in 2001, also spending time with Lille and Lazio.

He spent just one season at Arsenal before ending his career in Germany with FC Augsburg.

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