Source: Telegraph
Do Umbro hold the key to Manchester City's attempts to sign Chelsea's John Terry?
He didn't want Le Coq Sportif anymore. He wanted to work with a company that was more identifiably British. A 10-year 'brand partnership' was therefore signed, in June this year, with Umbro.
Although it's a subsidiary of Nike - Cook's former employer - Umbro is pretty much still regarded as an English business.
Tailored by Umbro in England and the company even supplied the kits when City won the FA Cup in 1934. A new kit goes on sale next week and how City would love John Terry to be the man who leads the team out in it when the Premier League season starts in August.
Terry is England captain, they don't come more English than the 28-year-old and he embodies many of the strengths of English football.
City, like Chelsea, have identified him as the kind of figurehead the club needs. This week Carlo Ancelotti called him a 'symbol' of Chelsea and he is exactly that. Now City want him to be their symbol.
Interestingly, Terry is also clearly associated with a particular brand of sports manufacturer. Yep, Umbro. He, along with Michael Owen, has been the main face used by the company to promote its kits, clothing and boots, including for England.
Given Cook's background in sports marketing and branding - he joined City from Nike where he was president of the so-called 'Brand Jordan' - it's natural to assume that he spoke to Umbro about his plans for Terry.
It's a clear synergy, with Umbro, no doubt, also involved in the economics of the deal. They would be delighted to lure Terry from Chelsea whose supplier is adidas.
Such sportswear deals are worth multi-millions. It's rumoured that Michael Ballack only chose Chelsea because he also has a deal with adidas and whether or not that is true, the German midfielder is known as 'Mr adidas' at Stamford Bridge.
At the same time adidas were delighted at the signings of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo by Real Madrid because both players have, previously, had such close and lucrative links with Nike.
Cook's strength is marketing and brand awareness and its unthinkable that in his discussions over Terry and the eye-watering salary City are prepared to pay him, plus the huge transfer fee for a 28-year-old, that he has not factored in the money that can be recouped through the close links the club and the player have with Umbro.
It also shows, perhaps, the direction in which more and more proposed transfer deals are moving. Its increasingly a business transaction as much, if not more, than a sporting one.
