With some of the top international soccer stars in the area for the World Cup, a barber in Waltham, Massachusetts, is getting them ready for the sport’s biggest stage.
Barber Coco Fernandez, owner of Mobar, has built a reputation among elite athletes, becoming a trusted name for some of soccer’s biggest talents ahead of the tournament.
“You know, we found the best,” French soccer star Désiré Doué said after a recent haircut.
“I appreciate that, man, for real,” Fernandez replied.
From players representing France to stars competing for Morocco, Fernandez’s chair has become a destination for athletes looking their best before stepping onto the world stage.
“Last week, I worked with the French national team,” Fernandez said. “A couple of guys that you might know, who I did — Ousmane Dembélé. I did Kylian Mbappé.”
This week, Fernandez and his team are working with members of Morocco’s national team and coaching staff.
“When you’ve got some of the top guys in sports in your hands, it’s my job to make them look right,” Fernandez said. “It’s my job to make them feel right.”
Fernandez’s client list extends far beyond soccer. He’s also cut the hair of NBA stars, including and Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving, along with a host of celebrities.
Still, he says nothing compares to the magnitude of soccer’s biggest international events.
“Superstars here are huge, but this is global,” NBC10 Boston’s Malcolm Johnson said.
“That was the word that really stood out to me,” Fernandez said. “When I realized that these are global superstars, it almost became even a little bit more intimidating.”
Despite the growing spotlight, Fernandez says he remains grounded.
“Yeah, I’ve been able to stay calm, stay humble and stay hungry,” he said.
For Fernandez, the work is about more than a haircut.
“I really take pride in my craft — the symmetry, how I do things,” he said. “Being able to deliver a piece of my system to them makes me feel as if I have part in how they perform.”
As the world’s attention turns to the soccer pitch, Fernandez will be watching, knowing some of the game’s biggest stars took the field looking their best after a stop in Waltham.
Malcolm Johnson
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