Nike steals soccer deal from rivals Kappa

11 March 2009 | Posted in Sponsorship, Soccer | By Adam Fraser

Nike will replace Kappa as kit provider for German soccer club Werder Bremen after agreeing a five-year deal with the four-time Bundesliga champions. The deal will begin in July this year, and run until the summer of 2014. It marks the end of a long-running agreement between Kappa and Werder Bremen, who have worked together since the turn of the millennium.

"We had very fair negotiations with Kappa too, but in the end, Nike had the more attractive total package," said Manfred Müller, the club's head of marketing.

"Along with Kappa we set some real optical standards in the league and can look back happily on nine very successful years together."

The Werder Bremen team includes a number of internationally renowned players, including national team stars Per Mertesacker and Torsten Frings. However, the club's hopes of European qualification have faltered since the winter break, after going six games without a win.