The man who changed Henry's luck

author: Juan Manuel Díaz
source: Sport




THE TATTOO THAT CHANGED HENRY'S LUCK

After scoring in the game against Almería, Thierry began a ritual that is already a habit: with every goal, he kisses his right wrist

The first one was Angel Cuéllar, "coincidentally, because we had friends in common", explains Luis Tattoo. "Afterwards came Figo, Abelardo, Luis Enrique, Puyol and the Espanyol guys, Posse, Jofre, Lobo, De la Peña; and then Frank Rijkaard, Valdés..."

Luis follows the photographer's instructions sitting in an old dentist's chair that adorns the front entrance to the premises. "It belonged to a prestigious surgeon, Dr. Caralt, one of the first doctors to do heart transplants", he explains. Then later, returning to his work, he comments that a lot of football players "came at times that were kind of special to them. 'Puyi', before winning the first league; Rijkaard, before the Champions League win in Paris; Iván, before winning the King's Cup."

Luis Tattoo has put his 'good luck charms', inspired by polynesian mythology, on a lot of Barcelona stars during the last 15 years, convinced that his art helps them bring out the best in themselves on the playing field. A multitude of athletes have little rituals and superstitions that help them withstand the high stress of competition and to fight off 'jinxes'. "The most fun of all is that media stars like them get tattooed in the Revolution square, number 13, in the centre of the Gràcia neighborhood", he jokes.

Because "of course", Puyol, Rijkaard or Henry have put themselves in his hands in the little studio in the plaza that commemorates the proclamation of the First Spanish Republic. "I tatttooed Cuéllar and Figo at my home. Luis Enrique, the first time, in Ibiza. And Bojan, Puyol for the third time, Rijkaard, Márquez and Henry, right here". The last one was Cesc Fábregas, "recommended by 'Puyi', who had also told Bojan", he remembers.

And what is the story about Henry? "In the game following his tattoo, he scored in minute 13 of the game, the 2-0 in Almería-Barcelona that ended with a 5-0 victory. Luis assures that he's not a fan of Barcelona or Espanyol "because I don't like football at all. Maybe that's why I get along with them so well. I guess that's what makes them so calm when they come here. Even though, if the subject of football comes up, we can talk about it."

The emblems can be produced on any part of the body. Thierry asked to wear one on his wrist "I guess for aesthetics, it was important for him to have it on the wrist", as it has since been demonstrated: he celebrates each one of his goals with a kiss on the design that Luis engraved on him.

But what are his customers looking for in these tattoos? "It helps them reinforce their physical strength, to remember who they are; that if they've been able to reach this point, they can get even further, all they have to do is make an effort. These protections reaffirm them, they help them return to believing in themselves. If you are the best, then why not be the best again?". There must be something to that, because through his studio have walked lawyers, doctors, mechanics, office workers, soccer players from Barcelona and aristocrats like Eugenia Martínez de Irujo, daughter of the duchess of Alba.

The wave is strength; the sun, energy; the dolphin, balance...
Luis jealously guards the folder of letters written to him by clients. "The first thing I do is give them an 'assignment', that in a peaceful moment they write down whatever comes from the heart. Then I read it, we talk about why they wrote what they wrote, and from there I start to draw.

A wave represents force and vitality; a dolphin, harmony and balance. The sun is energy; the lizard symbolizes the Earth. "In my tattoos I try to give expression to each person's history through symbols of Polynesian culture, even though its interpreted through our western culture", he explains. "They write very specific things about their personal lives, that in the football player's cases also includes football because it is part of their lives".

Translated by: Cintia


Read more:
The Arabic tattoo of Busquets
Puyol: "Tattoos are one of my passions"
The alphabet of Bojan (part 2)