The FAI will be dealing with a new parent company the next time its kit deal comes up for renewal.  Umbro was yesterday sold by Nike to the New York base Iconix brand group which owns the Peanuts comic strip franchise, Madonna’s Material Girl fashion label amid nearly 30 well known brands.
Nike signaled its intention to sell last month and has taken an estimated €120 million loss since buying the brand some five years ago.
It had earlier announced that the England and Manchester City kit contracts, the jewels in the Umbro crown, was to be taken over by Nike.
The Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Norway, Glasgow Rangers and Atletico Madrid are the main contracts it brings over to the new ownership.
Apart for the international jerseys and kit, Umbro is a significant investor at other levels of the game in Ireland.  It is kit supplier to a number of Airtricity Premier League Clubs including Shamrock Rovers. It also sponsors the Umbro Galway Cup each August, one of the largest under age tournaments in Europe, the Umbro Senior Schools tournament and the FAI Umbro Women’s FAI Cup competition.
It is likely that no decision on any expansion or retraction of this involvement will be made quickly and it will be a test for the management team at the FAI to ensure that the relationship remains strong.
They will take comfort from the words of Iconix CEO Neil Cole who said announcing the sale that “Umbro is a true, authentic football brand with a global loyal consumer fan base and we are thrilled to be adding it to our portfolio of iconic brands.”
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