Umbro
United Kingdom
Umbro is an English football sportswear brand founded in 1924 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, by brothers Harold and Wallace Humphreys. Iconix Brand Group bought it from Nike in 2012 for 225 million US dollars, and later ownership has not been verified here.
| Founded | 1924 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Harold and Wallace Humphreys |
| Origin | Wilmslow, Cheshire, England |
| Bought from Nike by Iconix | December 2012, for 225 million US dollars |
| Segment | Sportswear and outdoor |
| Website | umbro.com |
What is Umbro?
Umbro is a British sportswear brand specialising in football and rugby kit, boots, footballs and goalkeeper gloves. It is known for its double diamond logo and sells in more than 100 countries.
History
Brothers Harold and Wallace Humphreys founded the company in 1924 in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Umbro kit appeared in major matches across the decades, including the 1934 FA Cup final for Manchester City and Portsmouth, England's 1966 World Cup win, Celtic's 1967 European Cup, four European Cups for Liverpool and Manchester United's 1999 Champions League victory. Sponsorship deals have included Manchester City from 2009, Everton from 2014 to 2015, West Ham United in 2015, Blackburn Rovers in 2016, Schalke 04 and the Jamaica national team in 2017.
Ownership
Iconix Brand Group bought Umbro from Nike for 225 million US dollars in cash, completing the deal in December 2012, and the brand then had more than 30 licensees in over 100 countries. Since then the brand has been run on a licence basis. Later ownership changes have not been verified here, so no current parent group is named.
Business model and distribution
- Licensing: the brand owner licenses production and distribution by region and category.
- Team sports: in March 2024 Scottish licensee GL Dameck sublicensed the brand to Castore for professional team sports apparel in Europe.
- Retail: products are sold through sports retailers and online.
Why it matters
Umbro is one of the most historic English football brands and a leading example of a heritage sportswear name run through licensing rather than direct manufacturing.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Umbro?
Iconix Brand Group bought Umbro from Nike in 2012 for 225 million US dollars. Ownership since then has not been verified for this profile.
Where is Umbro from?
Umbro is from England. It was founded in 1924 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, and its headquarters are listed as Manchester.