Marathon Sports

Marathon Sports is an Ecuadorian sports equipment manufacturing company founded by Rodrigo Ribadeneira in May 1981, when the brand opened its first store. The company, headquartered in Quito, manufacture and distributes athletic sportswear to sports teams and athletes, mainly association football uniforms.

For the American sporting goods retailer, see Marathon Sports (retailer). For the Hong Kong sporting goods retailer, see Swire Resources.
Marathon Sports
TypePrivate
IndustryTextile
Founded1981 (1981)
FounderRodrigo Rivadeneira [1]
Headquarters
Quito
,
Ecuador
Area served
South America
ProductsFootball kit uniforms
Websitemarathon.ec

In addition to its own products, Marathon imports, distributes and markets some of the most important global brands of clothing and accessories, such as Adidas, Nike, Puma, Diadora, Wilson and Joma. There are currently 88 stores in Ecuador.

History

The company was founded in May 1981 by Rodrigo Rivadeneira. It first started as a sporting store chain for Ecuador, but in 1994, the Reebok contract with Ecuador national football team expired. Marathon Sports then signed a contract with the Ecuadorian Football Federation for an unknown number of years, although it was renewed in 2016 for a total of US$ 2,6 million, expiring in 2023.[1] The first national squad jersey design had a band of thick blue and red strips on the right shoulder reflecting the flag of Ecuador. After being close to qualify for their first FIFA World Cup in 1998, the Ecuadorian Federation decided to stick with the brand, releasing a design reflecting more of an Andean style.

In 2002 the Ecuadorian team qualified for its first World Cup, held in Korea and Japan –the first FIFA's jointly hosted World Cup. Marathon Sports consolidated as an international brand, having sponsored not only football teams in Ecuador but in Peru (Deportivo Municipal and Uruguay (Rampla Juniors). Moreover, Marathon Sports opened stores in Lima (Peru).

In 2017, the company signed a contract with the PFP to become official shirt supplier of Peru national team since 2018 for a total of USD 1,5 million –plus 8 million in sporting goods. The offer largely overcome Adidas', which had also showed interest in the Peruvian team.[2]

Sponsorships

Current teams wearing uniforms manufactured by Marathon are:

National teams

Club teams

References
  1. Marathon será el principal patrocinador de la Federación Peruana de Fútbol by Santiago Guerrero on El Comercio, 25 Sep 2017
  2. Selección Peruana: La razón por la que se prefirió a Marathon en vez de Adidas by Jostein Canales on La Repùblica, 24 Aug 2017
  3. Camisetas Marathon de Bolivia - Copa América
  4. La Selección de Ecuador ya tiene su nueva camiseta on El Comercio, 22 May 2019
  5. Camisetas Ecuador Copa América 2019 on Marca de Gol, 22 May 2019
  6. Marathon presentó la nueva camiseta de Perú para la Copa América 2019 on Perú21, 22 May 2019
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