Nike chief makes Liverpool promise on new kit design
Liverpool fans will be relieved with Nike director Heidi Burgett’s statement about the new Liverpool kit from 2020/21 season onwards. (h/t Liverpool Echo)
Nike will supply the Liverpool kits from the 2020/21 season after taking over from current manufacturers New Balance. The Reds ended their seven-year association with New Balance to sign a long-term deal with the global sporting giants.
Although financially rewarding, a number of Liverpool fans were against Nike’s generic kit designs. A fan account brought up the debate once again on Twitter when he compared the impressive kits Nike manufacture for Nigeria to the generic templates used elsewhere.
Burgett took advantage of the post to assuage the fear of Liverpool fans regarding the issue. Burgett stated that Nike are working on creating unique designs for the teams they represent.
“We’re ditching the templates. For the 2020 kits, Nike designers had 65 chassis options available to them across varying necklines, sleeves, cuffs, badge placement, etc.
“From hand-drawn prints to custom fonts, each team’s look will be its own.”
Liverpool fought tooth and nail to get the world’s pre-eminent sportswear brand on board at Anfield, winning a High Court case against their current suppliers back in October.
Liverpool’s deal with Nike is worth around a guaranteed £30million per year, £15million less than the offer made by New Balance. However, the add-ons and exposure afforded by Nike should eventually dwarf the fee from New Balance.
It is a testament to the club’s position in world football that both the manufacturers went toe to toe to secure the deal. New Balance have been excellent over the years and will be remembered for some of their kits.
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The Nike deal ensures greater worldwide exposure for the Reds in different markets. It should help the club re-establish themselves as the premier force in world football and reach out to a wider audience. The club today is a force to be reckoned with on the field. With the new kit deal, it should help the club compete off it as well.
