Gregory Van Der Wiel isn't your average footballer. How many professional footballers turn up to work on a match day wearing a throwback Manchester United Umbro shirt with Cantona 7 on the back? Van Der Wiel continues to style his own route on and off the pitch.
The former Dutch international and current Toronto FC player rocked up to BMO Field at the weekend wearing the iconic 1992-94 Man United home shirt before taking on LAFC in their MLS fixture. An authentic Umbro original complete with drawstring collar and Cantona 7 name and numbering on the rear – easily one of the most popular and recognisable Manchester United shirts of all time.
Van Der Wiel has always been a player that has done things his own way, in his own stylised fashion. On the pitch he boasts a career that's taken him from Ajax, to PSG, to Fenerbahce and to World Cups, but it's off the pitch were he's equally as active and savvy. Last year, the defender co-founded Block Party, an investment fund that backs tech startups. He recently sold his stake in the clothing line BALR. and the social-media brand 433, and plans to start a new company in Toronto that builds and manages personal brands.
The full-back, who wears number 9 for Toronto, has previous when it comes to turning up to match days in retro football shirts. Early this season Van Der Wiel arrived at BMO Field for his side's game against NYCFC wearing the Juventus silver away shirt from 2009/10. Some collection he's got going on.
Photography by Lucas Kschischang.
