Antwerp FC not in the sea with Nike, Jako remains a clothing sponsor
Football club Antwerp will not change clothing sponsor this season. It was announced at the end of last year that current partner Jako would be exchanged for Nike. But the Overmars affair puts a spanner in the works. The international sports brand and Antwerp to have the agreement decided in mutual consultation. Antwerp FC is already developing a new agreement with Jako, Gazet van Antwerpen learned.
The surprising news came at the end of October: after six years (Jako had been a sponsor since 2016, the last year in second division), Antwerp chose a new clothing sponsor. The international Nike would become the new clothing sponsor of the stock number from next season, and that for three seasons.
Regular partner Jako in love, but not sour. “We obviously think this is a shame”, confirmed Jan Jacobs, CEO of Jako Belgium, in October. “But we certainly won’t break up in an argument. The club is now opting for a different brand, but Jako will remain a supporter and we will always be there if the club needs us again.”
And that moment came sooner than expected. After it was announced in March that Marc Overmars became sporting director at Antwerp FC, Nike also had questions. The sports brand has a European headquarters in Hilversum, near Amsterdam. Even though it is clear that there is no complaint against Marc Overmars, the case continues to reverberate in the Netherlands.
Nike and Antwerp have decided to cancel the deal ‘by mutual agreement’. The Great Old again got in touch with its current clothing sponsor Jako, who, with great enthusiasm, worked out a new multi-year and more extensive sponsorship deal.