After AC Milan and adidas tied up a contract extension this week to take their relationship beyond 25 years we're taking a look at some of the most distinctive longest serving brand/club combinations. Huge money is involved in kit supplier deals with some football clubs looking for the highest bidding brand and others simply honouring tradition.
Football clubs and brands work together closely with the success of one party influencing the success of the other and here we take a look at some of the strongest bonds within the game, featuring clubs who linked up with the same brand for at least a decade.
Bayern Munich | adidas (1966-2020) 54 years - Bayern Munich and adidas are the ultimate footballing/brand combination. Bayern's current contract with their homeland brand runs until 2020, which would take the current relationship into a staggering 54th year. The three stripes even own 9.4% of the club so chances are they'll continue their colossal deal when the contract expires in the twenties.
Inter Milan | Nike (1998-2024) 26 years - Inter Milan and Nike renewed their sponsorship agreement over the summer for a further ten years at € 20m a year, a deal that will take the companies' partnership past the 25-year barrier and set a new benchmark for sports marketing in Italy beating AC Milan and adidas' deal by a year.
AC Milan | adidas (1998-2023) 25 years - This week adidas and AC Milan announced that they have extended they're current deal by another five years to round up their collaboration to 25 years. The Three Stripes first appeared on the famous black and red kits in 1998 when a fresh faced Paolo Maldini and co lifted the Serie A title. The year 2023 should be a good one in Milan as both clubs celebrate they're 25th anniversary with their respective brands. Something to look forward to...
PSG | Nike (1989-2014) 25 years - Next season will mark the 25th anniversary between Nike and PSG. The Paris club have donned the swoosh since 1989 but with the profile of the club rising PSG are in negotiations to up their annual income from Nike to ensure the relationship continues for another chapter.
Real Madrid | adidas (1998-2020) 22 years - Real Madrid's deal with adidas is currently the most expensive in world football with Los Blancos raking in a crisp £31m a year for giving adidas the honour of supplying the famous white shirts. Raul was part of the first Real Madrid squad to ever wear adidas and the Spanish giants haven't looked back since. The current deal terminates in 2020 taking the relationship over the 20 year mark.
Barcelona | Nike (1998-2018) 20 years - The year 2018 will mark Barcelona and Nike's 20th year together. The second most expensive kit deal behind Madrid and adidas Barca earn around £27 million a year for Nike to kit up their players in the Swoosh. Another strong relationship that we expect to surpass the 25 year barrier.
Arsenal | Nike (1994-2014) 20 years - Arsenal’s collaboration with Nike dates back to 1994 and will therefore pass the double decade mark at the end of the season but that's where the story is rumoured to end. Arsenal have not so secretly struck a huge deal with PUMA for an apparent £30m a year starting in the 2014/15 season and will see the end of the Nike kits that featured at Highbury and the Emirates.
Chelsea | adidas (2006-2023) 17 years - When adidas took over from Umbro at Stamford Bridge Abramovich's reign was in full flow, Chelsea had hit the big time and decided a more lucrative kit deal should be acquired. Chuck adidas' annual sum of £24 million on top of Roman's loose change and you can see why Chelsea splash the cash. Chelsea are into their 8th season with adidas and the current deal is due to run for another decade before the two review their positions.
Liverpool | adidas (1985-1996 & 2006-2012) 17 years - Liverpool's relationship with adidas was interrupted for a decade by Reebok and then ended by Warrior in 2012. Liverpool and adidas have amassed a total of 17 years together and created some of the best looking kits to date, mainly from the earlier years when the old school adidas Originals logo featured on the shirts.
Juventus | Nike (2003-2016) 13 years - Juventus are currently serving out a 12 year contract with Nike on just over £10m a year. Juve are also rumoured to be eyeing up a switch of brand in search of increased funds to plough into the first team so it'll be interesting to see if the likes of adidas and PUMA swoop in.
What other brand/club kit deals strike you as being distinctive? Let us know. Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
