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The work of Cork graphic designer John Sheehan has been forever immortalised in European football folklore ahead of the UEFA Europa League final in Dublin on Wednesday.
Mr Sheehan, from Bishopstown, created a number of graphics of Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and Serie A club Atalanta that have featured on the official UEFA Europa League social media channels in recent days.
“I did the two team posters and the head-to-head poster,” Mr Sheehan said.
It all comes down to this 👊@johnsportraits x #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/X7thHzRD94
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 22, 2024
“I also have two winner graphics ready to go although one will go to the graphics graveyard after the match,” he laughed.
Known as John Sportraits, the freelancer has worked with some of the biggest brands in sport including his favourite football team Manchester United, their arch-rivals Manchester City, TNT Sports, Umbro and the Bundesliga.
“It sounds very grandiose working with the big clubs and the big brands, but I feel when freelancing in sport these are the only people that will have the budget for artwork, and that is the way it is.
Mr Sheehan’s first big job was with TNT Sports, where he did a graphic for UFC 200.
“That gave me the boost I needed to make this a career. I went full speed ahead and I built up a portfolio and the work kind of snowballs from there.”
Mr Sheehan described his artwork as “street art/grungy style with an interesting layout” which tends to be his preferred style for clients. He said the work he did for the Man United women’s team and Roma are two of his most popular designs.
“My graphic design background helps me with the hierarchy of the information and typography, which all comes together.”
Art is “the only thing” Mr Sheehan is “mildly good at”, he said, and it became his passion as he grew older.
“I remember growing up in my nan’s house I would always be drawing skateboarders or tracing images out of magazines.
“It was the one interest I had both outside and inside of school,” he added.
Mr Sheehan is thankful that UEFA afforded him the opportunity to create graphics instead of going down the AI route.
“It’s great to celebrate the collaborative effort/human input of creating art for these events,” Mr Sheehan added.
When asked who he will be supporting in Dublin on Wednesday he said he would like to see Atalanta get over the line, but it would be “cool to see Leverkusen make history”.
The Europa League final kicks off at 8pm on Wednesday, May 22, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
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