MANUFACTURER: uhlsport
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Balingen, South West Germany
DATE FOUNDED: 1948
HISTORY:
uhlsport has a long and illustrious history, one that is bound up with the manufacture of uhlsport goalkeeper gloves and specialised goalkeeping equipment ever since their use became popular in the late 1960s. In terms of quality and variety of product offering, innovation and expertise, uhlsport has very few brands that can compete with it. Great names associated in the past with uhlsport include record breaking England international Peter Shilton, Italian World Cup winner Dino Zoff, Wales most capped goalkeeper of all time Neville Southall, 3 times world goalkeeper of the year Walter Zenga and the great Pat Jennings – and that’s just a short list.
Uhlsport’s long history began in 1948 – the company was set up originally manufacturing leather studs. In the 1950s it then moved to the production of soles for football shoes, of which it quickly became one of the leading manufacturers, and other sports products. The late 60s saw the increasing use in football of special goalkeeping gloves, as the benefits of gloves became increasingly recognised, and from 1970 goalkeeper gloves were increasingly central in uhlsport’s product range.
By 1980 – almost 30 years ago - uhlsport was a European leader in goalkeeping gloves and equipment and began to focus purely on those areas. This position was cemented in 1982 with the iconic spectacle of Italy’s goalkeeper captain Dino Zoff winning the World Cup in a pair of uhlsport gloves. This success was followed by similar stories – Germany’s Uli Stein won the 1983 European Cup with Hamburg – against Zoff’s Juventus – wearing uhlsport. uhlsport’s place in world goalkeeping was further strengthened with the inaugural presentation of its Best Goalkeeper in the World award, presented in 1987 to France’s Jean-Marie Pfaff of Bayern Munich. Success stories continued: Inter Milan goalkeeper and uhlsport endorsee, Walter Zenga, for instance, was to win Best Goalkeeper in the World for the three consecutive years from 1989 to 1991.
uhlsport remains one of the world’s most popular goalkeeping brands, and for good reason. In terms of product offering and technology, uhlsport is in every sense a world class manufacturer of goalkeeping apparel, with a consistently excellent variety of top class gloves and new technologies. uhlsport football products are sold in over 70 countries around the world.
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS AND TECHNOLOGY:
Finger and hand protection:
‘Ergonomic SUPPORTFRAME’ technology: patented by and exclusive to uhlsport
Foam palms:
‘ABSOLUTGRIP’ latex foam: a genuinely incredible, “sticky” foam – almost unparalleled gripping properties. uhlsport patented and exclusive, optimum grip across all conditions.
Glove cuts:
Ergonomic cut: pre-curved flat cut. uhlsport exclusive fit.
Chimera: available in flat cut or roll finger versions. Unique to uhlsport.
UHLSPORT COMMENT:
“We have made it our guiding principle to strive for the best technical solution, the most attractive design, the highest quality and a perfect price/performance ratio. We set ourselves this demanding challenge again and again.”
KEY ENDORSEES:
• Gregory Coupet (Atletico Madrid)
• Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)
• Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers)
• Carlo Cudicini (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyonais)
• Sven Ulreich (Stuttgart)
• Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Allan McGregor (Glasgow Rangers)
• Robert Enke
• Boy Waterman (AZ Alkmar)
• Diego Alves (UD Almeria)
• Sebastian Viera (Villareal)
• Ricardo Neves (Boavista)
• Dennis Gentenaar (Ajax)
• Sherif Ekramy (Feyenoord)
• Kenneth Vermeer (Ajax)
• Timo Ochs (Red Bull Salzburg)
• Jurgen Macho (AEK Athens)
• Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow)
• Itu Khune (Kaiser Chiefs)
• Pascal Zubherbuhler (Fulham)
• Lucasz Fabianski (Arsenal)
• Francesco Toldo (Inter Milan)
• Zeljko Kalac (AC Milan)
• Simon Pouplin (SC Freiburg)
• Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
• Christian Vander (Werder Bremen)
• Nico Pellatz (Werder Bremen)
• Hans Jorg Butt (Bayern Munich)
• Markus Proll (Eintracht Frankfurt)
• Dennis Eilhoff (Arminia Bielefeld)
• Daniel Fernandes (VFL Bochum)
• Markus Miller (Karlshruhe)
• Gerhard Tremmel (Energie Cottbus)
• Tomislav Piplica (Energie Cottbus)
• Daniel Haas (1899 Hoffenheim)
• Faryd Mondragon (1. FC Koln)
• Steve Mondana (Marseille)
• Rudy Riou (Marseille)
• David Ospina (Nice)