Swiss Football Fan Gets Full Leg Sleeve For His Favorite City. (And No, It’s Not Geneva)
What do you get yourself for your 50th birthday? A fancy watch? A trip to the beach? How about a giant tattoo from knee to ankle dedicated to a city you weren’t even born in? 50-year-old Stéphane Chevalier from Switzerland chose the third option, proving that true love knows no borders—and it certainly isn’t afraid of needles.
Every morning, Stéphane looks in the mirror and sees Manchester on his leg. And no, that’s not a hallucination after a wild night in a pub. It’s his tattoo sleeve, which has become a true map of his heart.
How did it all start? With football, of course!
This love story began back in 1994, when Stéphane, living in quiet Switzerland, got hooked on English football. The only match broadcast on TV was the FA Cup final, and as it happened, Manchester United was winning it quite regularly in those years.
“I loved watching that team play. It didn’t look like the football I knew,” Stéphane recalls.
His first visit to the city in 2010 was, naturally, a pilgrimage to the Old Trafford stadium. But something about the city’s atmosphere, its energy, and its people captivated him more than any match. He knew he’d be back. And he was—over 50 times!
A Tattoo as a Map of Personal Memories
When Stéphane turned 50, he decided to do something truly personal. The idea for a tattoo came naturally. The theme was obvious: Manchester. But he didn’t want a cliché, like just the football club’s crest or the city skyline. He needed something more.
Together with tattoo artist Bex Mavo, whom he found on Instagram, they created a unique design that blended iconic landmarks with personal symbols:
- The bridges of Castlefield and the famous Beetham Tower.
- The textured red brick walls that are a city trademark.
- The doorway to his favorite Irish pub, Mulligans.
- The number 43 bus he often rode.
- Sheet music from an Oasis song—a must-have!
- A bee, the historic symbol of Manchester’s work ethic.
- Even tiny matchstick men in the style of the artist L.S. Lowry.
18 Hours of Pain and Professionalism
The work took four sessions, totaling about 18 hours. “Some parts were painful, especially over the bone,” Stéphane admits. “But Bex was brilliant.”
She would professionally warn him before a particularly tough spot with her signature Mancunian calm: “Sorry, love.”
The Reaction and the Meaning
His friends and family in Switzerland loved it. They knew how much Manchester meant to him. And his Manchester friends were deeply touched by the dedication.
“The tattoo has sparked so many conversations,” Stéphane laughs. “People recognize places on it, and we start sharing stories.”
This tattoo isn’t just a drawing. It’s a diary, a map, and a declaration of love for a city that has become a second home for a man from Switzerland. This is what happens when a city becomes a part of your soul—in the most literal way possible.