B Club Only Now: How Flamengo Lost Its Status As Adidas Elite Team
Oct 29, 2020, by Chris
When we gave an overview of the Adidas pyramid of football clubs some days ago, some Brazilian fans and avid followers were surprised that Flamengo is not an Adidas Elite team...
Adidas Elite Teams Until 201X
In fact, we listed Flamengo as an Elite Team in our last ranking, but we revised this for our latest update - let us explain why.
Adidas, Nike & Puma - The Top Clubs Of Each Brand From 2020-21
Ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup, Adidas wanted Flamego to become a top team
Adidas signed the record 10-years deal with Brazilian team Flamengo in 2012, 18 months ahead of the 2014 World Cup. The ten-year agreement from Flamengo with Adidas is worth around 17 million Euro / season, making it the biggest ever signed by a Latin American club.
Adidas 2016 Annual Press Release
Back in 2013, Adidas has seen Flamengo as an Elite team, as revealed by Adidas company spokesman Lars Mangels.
Adidas in 2013: the contract is similarly high as a partnership with FC Bayern Munich or Real Madrid
"Flamengo is the top club for Brazil. Especially with the soccer World Cup next year, it is important for us to position ourselves well there. We have succeeded in this," enthused Adidas company spokesman Lars Mangels. "Because of the importance of the CR Flamengo in Brazil, the contract for adidas is [was] similarly high as a partnership with FC Bayern Munich or Real Madrid".
Flamengo Only in "B Clubs" Category In Current Adidas 'Catalog'
Adidas teams in 2015 - "no B Clubs"
Adidas had given Flamengo the same treatment as their other A Clubs since the start of the deal in 2013. In 2016, Flamengo was still an Adidas top club, part of the brand's fan-designed 'Creators' jerseys.
Flamengo lost its status as Elite club between 2016 and 2018
However, when the Three Stripes released the 2017-2018 third kits, Flamengo was not part of the global release image. Later Elite-team-only collections did not include CR Flamengo (such as the CNY jerseys and global pre-match top club designs). Flamengo lost its status as Elite club between 2016 and 2018.
There are several possible reasons why Flamengo lost its status as Adidas Elite Team. Most importantly, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was one of the main reasons for Flamengo to become a top Adidas team. In these years, Adidas did not manage to bring Flamengo on the same level as Real Madrid or Bayern globally.
It is safe to assume that the team's kits did not sell as good as of other Elite teams internationally - Adidas sometime (around 2016) decided to stop labeling Flamengo was Elite team.
Around 2016, Adidas also introduced its "B Teams" category for teams. Flamengo is a B Team in the latest Adidas catalog.
Adidas did not manage to bring Flamengo on the same level as Real Madrid or Bayern globally
However, CR Flamengo is still among the best Adidas clubs, they are just not an Elite team anymore. They are now on a similar level as teams as Boca, Ajax, River Plate and Bordeaux.
Adidas changed their strategy of the 2010s meanwhile
We do not think that Flamengo will become an Adidas elite team again in the near future. In fact, Adidas recently signed quite many smaller Englsih & German clubs again, a change of their strategy of the 2010s.
Would you like Flamengo to be a top Adidas team again? Is there any team that should become an Adidas top club (e.g. Boca, River Plate)? Comment below.
Wellington Phoenix 26-27 Home Kit Released
A-League club Wellington Phoenix and apparel partner Dynasty Sport have officially unveiled the club's new home kit for the 26-27 season. Celebrating the club's 20th anniversary campaign, the design delivers a direct throwback homage to the inaugural strip worn during the 2007-08 season.
The Dynasty Wellington Phoenix 26-27 home jersey features a predominantly black body accented by distinctive curved yellow and white panels sweeping across the shoulders and flanks, echoing the aesthetics of the club's debut kit. Significant cultural elements are embedded throughout, with the central Te Raukura white feather plume positioned on the chest alongside the club crest, and a tohu pattern incorporated into the side paneling. The inside collar features custom anniversary lettering reading 'Wellington Phoenix 20th Season Anniversary 2007-2027'.
Completed with matching black shorts and black socks, the kit is available immediately via the Phoenix online store and select regional retailers. The men's team features Entelar Group as main sponsor, while the women's edition showcases OPPO on the front.
Adidas National University Philippines 26-27 Kits Released
Adidas has officially unveiled the new football kits for National University (NU) in the Philippines, continuing the brand's ongoing partnership with the NU Bulldogs collegiate teams in the UAAP. As the country's first private, non-sectarian university, NU receives a sharp, bespoke set of uniforms tailored to its athletic heritage.
The new home jersey arrives in the university's classic deep navy blue, highlighted by rich gold accents on the collar, sleeve trim, and signature Three Stripes. A prominent retro-inspired 'National U' wordmark graphic stretches across the chest, complemented by a centered Adidas Performance logo and matching gold squad numbers. Completing the look are navy shorts and socks detailed with gold branding.
The away uniform reverses the aesthetic onto a crisp white base, finished with the same navy and gold chest branding and sleeve detailing. Alongside the outfield jerseys, Adidas also revealed a light pink goalkeeper kit featuring gold trim, giving the NU Bulldogs a complete, unified look across the pitch.
Special Farnham Town 26-27 Oktoberfest Shirt Released
English club Farnham Town has officially released a special limited-edition shirt to celebrate Oktoberfest for the 26-27 season. The one-off design arrives ahead of the club's dedicated matchday event scheduled for their home fixture against Salisbury on Saturday, October 10.
The shirt is heavily inspired by traditional Bavarian themes, featuring Bavaria's iconic blue and white diamond pattern across the entire body and sleeves. It is finished with a classic white spread polo collar paired with a V-neck cut, while a golden beer barrel graphic sits on the right chest opposite the Farnham Town FC club crest. Spanning across the midriff is an ornate gold "Oktoberfest" script complete with integrated barrel details.
Produced by LS4 Sport, who partners with the club alongside their primary kit supplier, the special release is completely separate from their standard 26-27 league kits. The shirt is available for pre-order through the club's online shop for £40 in strictly limited quantities.
Barnsley 26-27 Third Kit Released
Barnsley FC and technical partner Oxen have officially launched the club's new third kit for the 26-27 campaign. The release serves as the final chapter in the club's "Toby Tyke trilogy," following the houndstooth-patterned home shirt and star-clustered away kit, bringing the beloved mascot directly to the forefront.
The Oxen Barnsley 26-27 third shirt is predominantly white with light grey elements and bright green trim on the v-neck collar, cuffs, and side panels. Instead of the standard club crest, the jersey showcases a redrawn vintage Toby Tyke mascot in a green kit clutching a football positioned centrally on the chest. An intricate, all-over tonal print covers the body and sleeves, repeating Toby Tyke and the retro "The Tykes" typography, which is also neatly printed on the upper back.
Created in collaboration with creative studio VFILES, club director Julie Anne Quay, and a lifelong Barnsley supporter, the shirt features centered black branding from Oxen and main sponsor The Investment Room, alongside Weston Park Cancer Charity on the sleeve and Parliament on the lower back. The look is completed with white shorts and bright green and white socks.
