February 20 – French Football Federation President Noël Le Graët has revealed that the Nike kit deal for the French federation is worth €50.5 million a year for the next 10 years.
Nike replaced rival Adidas as the kit supplier of Les Bleus in 2011. The renewal last December will take them through to 2026 and according to Le Graët is the “world’s best contract”, beating German and English national team deals that were also renewed by Adidas and Nike respectively last year.
“The Nike contract is €38 million ($40.3 million) minimum in cash per year, plus €7.5 million ($8 million) in materials … and €5 million ($5.3 million) for amateur football,” said Le Graët.
“I would not venture to say it if it were not true, and Nike would contradict me. It’s the best contract in the world.”
Germany’s contract, which was renewed with Adidas in June 2016 for €50 million.
In December 2016 Nike extended its kit deal with England for a further 12 years for an estimated £400 million. That deal will kick in after the Russia 2018 World Cup and run through to 2030. The FA switched to Nike in 2012 in an initial six-year arrangement.
At the time industry estimates say the Nike deal with England is second in value only to Adidas’s kit sponsorship of world champions Germany. But following Le Graët’s announcement it looks like the French deal beats both of them.
On the world stage the appareil brand battle is predominantly a two-horse race between Nike and Adidas, with Puma putting up a strong chase. At the last World Cup in Brazil, Nike had the lead over Adidas, supplying 10 of the 32 qualifying teams, five of whom made it into the Round of 16 matches.
Adidas, who are FIFA’s official appareil sponsor and supply the World Cup ball, had deals with nine team, five of whom also qualified for the Round of 16 matches.
Puma supplied eight teams at Brazil 2014, half making it through to the Round of 16. Burrda Sport, Joma, Lotto, Marathon and Uhlsport each supplied one team.
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