As the patron saint of Italian fashion turns 80, we reveal eight interesting Armani facts, from his favourite football team to his collaboration with the pope

Becoming an octogenarian is something to celebrate whatever your line of work – but to turn 80 in fashion, and still be a household name worn on underpants, watches and accessories around the world, is a bit special. Such is the happy fate of Giorgio Armani, who reaches his ninth decade on Friday. Here are eight things you might not know about the designer.

 The current cult of the bomber jacket can be traced back to Armani. The first pieces he designed under his own name were a series of leather bomber jackets in 1970.

 He is a regular in rap lyrics, with Wiz Khalifa, Kanye West and TI recently giving Armani a shout-out. Biggie Smalls was also a fan – he had a penchant for Armani pyjamas, apparently.

His brand, with couture, ready-to-wear and Emporio lines on the catwalk, is big business. In 2012, the annual revenue reached £1.67bn. Armani himself is worth a cool £4.96bn, and is officially the most successful Italian designer ever.

Armani was well-versed in fashion before he went out on his own. He was a window dresser first, working at La Rinascente department store in Milan. Freelance gigs for Zegna, Cerruti and Loewe followed.

 Armani loves sport. He is a fan of Inter Milan and is on the board of Olimpia Milano basketball team. If he had to pick a team in the Premier League, it would probably be Chelsea. He designed suits for the team and worked on the interiors at Stamford Bridge.

 Fashion wasn’t his first career choice. Armani studied medicine and completed military service before deciding it was clothes, not bandages, that were his calling.