Contract with kit sponsor Adidas extended until summer 2009
26 May: Ajax and its kit sponsor, Adidas, have agreed on the
extension of the existing contract until 30 June 2009. Until
that date Adidas will design and supply a new away strip every
season and a new home jersey once every two seasons. Neither
Ajax nor Adidas have revealed any of the financial details in
the contract.
Ajax and Adidas signed a five year sponsor contract on 05
July 2000. The world's leading brand in football kits replaced
Umbro, Ajax's kit sponsor between 1989 and 2000. Adidas was not
easily accepted by certain fanatical groups of Ajax fans: the
three characteristic (red) stripes on the white sleeves of the
Ajax home jersey were considered blasphemic by many. Adidas
then announced to remove the three sleeve stripes from future
home jerseys, after which the criticism vanished. Adidas is
also the kit sponsor of giant football clubs such as AC Milan,
Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and River Plate.
Adidas' worldwide marketing executive Erich Stemminger's
comment on the new contract with Ajax: "We are extremely proud
to extend our good and close partnership with Ajax. Ajax
continuously succeds in innovating itself and can therefore be
regarded as one of the trendsetters in international football,
both on and off the pitch.The club's rich history, the
attractive way of playing and the highly professional
organisation of the club are a source of inspiration to anyone
with a heart for this beautiful game." (MP)
(Source: Ajax.nl)
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