{
  "id": 10186163,
  "title": "The story behind our autograph cards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/the-story-behind-our-autograph-cards",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-27T09:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/story-behind-autograph-cards-094000953.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For the 2026/27 season, Red Bull Salzburg has introduced a unique line of autograph cards that set them apart from previous editions. Instead of relying on standard photographs or AI-generated images, the club has turned to an Irish illustrator named John Sheehan to hand-draw each player for their autograph cards.\n\nJohn Sheehan has had a longstanding collaboration with the club, contributing to various projects over the years. For this particular endeavor, he went beyond the usual digital illustrations, opting for a more personal touch. To truly immerse himself in the experience, Sheehan visited Salzburg in person, giving him an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the club, an opportunity to visit the Red Bull Arena, and even a signed jersey from the team as a gesture of appreciation.\n\nJohn's dedication to the project is evident not only in his artistic skill but also in his effort to document the entire creation process. He produced a video showcasing the transformation from a rough sketch to the final illustration, using the example of young signing player Umut Tohumcu. This video serves as a step-by-step guide, allowing fans a unique glimpse into the craftsmanship involved in creating these special autograph cards.\n\nCurrently, these exclusive autograph cards are available exclusively at the Bullshop, the club's official store. Fans have two options to choose from: one featuring printed signatures for €9.95 or another with original signatures from the players for €19.95. The Bullshop is located at Oberst-Lepperdinger-Straße 17, Wals bei Salzburg, and is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00.",
  "summary": "Irish illustrator draws our boys by handOur new autograph card sets for the 2026/27 season are now available at the Bullshop!What makes this year’s edition special? Every single player has been indi...",
  "key_points": [
    "Red Bull Salzburg uses Irish illustrator John Sheehan for hand-drawn autograph cards.",
    "Sheehan visited Salzburg to gain exclusive club insights and a signed jersey.",
    "Cards available at Bullshop with printed or original signatures for €9.95 and €19.95."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}