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Out with the old, in with the new – new year, new you, viva la bold and the brave.

The Portuguese Football Federation has swapped swooshes for claws, having signed a long-term deal with PUMA to kit out the team, replacing the years-long partnership it had with Nike.

After a 27-year run with Nike, the federation is switching things up, marking the end of an era that began back in 1997. Before Nike, Portugal had a mixed bag of kit suppliers, including Adidas, Olympic, Carne, and Marlec.

Now, PUMA is stepping into the spotlight, adding Portugal to an impressive roster of international teams like Austria, Iceland, Czech Republic, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Switzerland, and Paraguay.

It looks like PUMA is building quite the dream team, as on the club side, they are already flexing with partnerships with Manchester City, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund.

Arne Freundt, PUMA chief executive, said signing a top-tier national team was one of the company’s priorities in football, adding “I am very excited to welcome a team as popular as Portugal to the Puma Family”.

“Given the large number of fans all over the world and the great potential of the next generation of this squad, we are looking forward to the upcoming big tournaments such as the 2026 World Cup.”

Fernando Gomes, president of the FPF, added that they were attracted to PUMA because of “the way in which they engage with the fans and tell the unique story of every team they work with”.

“We look forward to creating an exciting range of products with them which will resonate with our large fan base all over the world.”

PUMA will officially be sworn in on January 1st, 2025, with a long-term deal that covers the Portuguese national soccer, futsal, beach soccer, and esports teams. The partnership will see the brand equip all men’s women’s and youth sides.

PUMA has promised to unveil its first designs and creative vision for the Portugal partnership in early 2025. Meanwhile, the Portuguese men’s national team will debut the new era on the pitch in style when they face Denmark in the Uefa Nations League quarter-finals on 20th March 2025.

The countdown to the clawed-up kit begins.

Check out PUMA for more; like the cool kit for local teams Mamelodi Sundowns F.C and Blue Bulls, to name a few:

 

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[source:sportspro]