Adidas Loses Bundesliga Ball Supplier Deal

Derbystar will become the new ball supplier for the first and second German Bundesliga from the 2018-19 season. Derbystar had been represented in the Bundesliga through numerous partnerships with different clubs since the 1970-71 season. In the 1979-80 season, Derbystar balls were used in all 306 matches played in the Bundesliga.

"Our open and trusting talks with the DFL have led to the conclusion that we will not continue our long-term successful cooperation beyond the expiry of the current 2017-18 contract," said Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen, As part of our strategy, we will focus even more on cooperation with the leading international clubs and young, emerging players. "

Derbystar Becomes New Bundesliga Ball Supplier From The 2018-19 Season

Derbystar was featured for the last time in the Bundesliga.

The partnership with Derbystar is set to run over four seasons until 2021-22. The announcement was made today by DFL Sports Enterprises (DFL SE) in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Adidas already lost the ball deal with the French Ligue 1. Uhlsport will make Ligue 1 footballs from the 2017-18 season.

Adidas made the official match balls for the Bundesliga from the 2010-11 season.

"Our new partner Derbystar has long stood for the highest product quality – quality that is acknowledged by clubs and players alike. We also appreciate the international distribution network Derbystar maintains together with Select Sport, its parent company," says Jörg Daubitzer, CEO of DFL SE.

"Our return to the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 underscores the company's strong position in the market and our very positive performance in recent years," says Andreas Filipovic, who is in charge of sales and sponsoring on Derbystar's board. "We have doubled our sales since 2010. Our presence in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 will strengthen the brand," says Joachim Böhmer, the board member at Derbystar responsible for marketing and procurement.

Founded in 1968, Derbystar has specialized in the production of hand-stitched sports balls and was among the first manufacturers to use synthetic materials for this purpose. In 1991 Derbystar Sportartikel GmbH became part of Select Sport A/S (Select), a Danish sports ball specialist that has been an industry benchmark since 1947.

What do you think of this? Share your thoughts in the comments below.