The history of the two sporting goods manufacturers Adidas and Nike could hardly be more different – and that’s not just due to the dates they were founded. While Adidas had been providing athletes with their sports shoes since 1928, Nike only really took off in the 1970s. The most important data from the two companies:
1924
Adolf Adi Dassler began developing his own sneakers after the First World War. Together with his brother Rudolf, he called the business GeDa – Gebrüder Dassler Sportschuhfabrik and had it entered in the commercial register in 1924.
1928
At the Olympic Games in Amsterdam, the first German athletes compete in shoes from the Dassler brothers.
1933
Adi and Rudolf Dassler become members of the NSDAP.
1936
Jesse Owens (at the front) at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin © Central Press/Getty Images
The Olympic Games in Berlin helped the Dassler brothers achieve their international breakthrough. Athletes wear their shoes and achieve world and Olympic records. US sprint star Jesse Owens also wins four gold medals in Dassler shoes.
1948
The Dassler brothers go their separate ways after arguments. The older of the two brothers then founded the Rudolf Dassler sports shoe factory (Ruda), which was later registered as the Puma brand in the German trademark and patent office.
1949
Adi Dassler founded the Adi Dassler adidas shoe factory. In the same year he registered the world-famous three stripes as a trademark.
1954
Germany becomes world champion for the first time at the World Cup in Switzerland. Adi Dassler, who equipped the national team with screw-on stud shoes, is also there.
1970
The archivist of the sporting goods manufacturer Adidas, Sandra Trapp, holds the company’s first football for a World Cup in her hands in the company’s archives. © Nicolas Armer/dpa
For the first time, Adidas produces the official ball for a World Cup. To this day, the World Cup and European Championship balls are from Adidas. The contract with FIFA runs until the 2030 World Cup.
1971
The founders of Blue Ribbon Sports rename their brand Nike and start working on their own design for sports shoes.
1973
Nike is the first company to sign an endorsement deal with an athlete.
1978
The founder of the sporting goods manufacturer Adidas, Adolf Dassler, photographed in his office in Herzogenaurach in 1975. © Karl Schnoerrer/dpa
Adi Dassler dies and his son Horst Dassler takes over the company together with his mother Käthe.
Nike expands its sales to Europe in 1978.
1980
For the first time, the three Adidas stripes adorn the jersey of the German national football team.
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Nike goes public.
1984
Michael Jordan im April 1985 © Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Basketball superstar Michael Jordan signs an endorsement deal with Nike. Adidas is also making an offer for the US athlete. To date, it is one of the heaviest defeats for the company from Herzogenaurach.
1989
Adidas is converted into a public company.
1990
Adi Dassler’s daughters sell their shares in the Adidas company.
1993
Robert Louis-Dreyfus takes over the management of Adidas together with Christian Tourres.
1995
Six years after becoming a stock corporation, Adidas goes public.
1997
Nike wins soccer world champion Brazil and equips the national team. The contract runs until 2026.
2006
Adidas takes over competitor Reebok. In June 2006 the company was renamed Adidas AG.
2010
Nike is replacing Adidas as supplier to the French national teams; the contract initially runs until 2026.
2023
Bjørn Gulden becomes the new managing director at Adidas and a member of the board.
At the 2006 World Cup and the 2021 European Championship, the Italian national team played in Puma jerseys. From 2023, the national team will play in Adidas jerseys.
2024
Nike signs a contract with the German Football Association (DFB) from 2026. Adidas was previously the DFB team’s supplier for over 70 years.
With material from the news agencies SID, dpa and AFP
The history of the two sporting goods manufacturers Adidas and Nike could hardly be more different – and that’s not just due to the dates they were founded. While Adidas had been providing athletes with their sports shoes since 1928, Nike only really took off in the 1970s. The most important data from the two companies:
Adolf Adi Dassler began developing his own sneakers after the First World War. Together with his brother Rudolf, he called the business GeDa – Gebrüder Dassler Sportschuhfabrik and had it entered in the commercial register in 1924.
