NEW YORK — Adidas has entered into a long-term partnership with the Russian Football Union (RFU), the company announced Monday.
“Adidas is the clear market leader in Russia, a country known for world-class athletes and enthusiastic fans. We are looking forward to this long-term partnership with the Russian Football Union because it constitutes a perfect alliance between the global Number One football brand and a strong team with a huge potential,” said Herbert Hainer, chairman and CEO of Adidas, in a statement.
As part of the agreement, which will last through 2018 and is designed to help drive excitement for the sport in Russia, Adidas will supply all RFU teams with uniforms and the Russian National Team will first wear Adidas during a match September 10 in Moscow, the qualifier for the FIFA World Cup 2010. Sports fans will also be able to show support — RFU team jerseys featuring the new Adidas design will be available at retail for spring 2009.
“Now we’ve signed a completely new long-term partnership with Adidas that allows us not only to equip our national team, to take our youth and children’s football to a new level, but to popularize this number one sport as a Russian national idea for the entire society,” said minister of sports, tourism and youth policy of Russian Federation and president of the RFU, Vitaliy Mutko, in the statement.
