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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, manufactures and distributes athletic sportswear to sports teams and athletes, mainly association football uniforms.

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 began as a sporting store chain in Ecuador until 1994, when the Reebok contract with Ecuador national football team was set to expire. Marathon Sports then signed a contract with the Ecuadorian Football Federation for an unknown number of years. This was later renewed in 2016 for a total of US$ 2.6 million, expiring in 2023. The first national squad jersey design had a band of thick blue and red stripes on the right shoulder reflecting the flag of Ecuador. After a great, although unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the FIFA World Cup in 1998, the Ecuadorian Federation decided to stick with the brand.

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 Peruvian Football Federation 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.

Sponsorships

Current teams wearing uniforms manufactured by Marathon are:

National teams

• Bolivia
• Ecuador

Club teams

• The Strongest
• Arriba Perú
• Huachipato (From 2024 season)
• Barcelona S.C.
• Independiente del Valle
• Universitario
• Always Ready
• Aurora

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

External links

• Official website

v t e Companies headquartered in Quito
Avianca Ecuador Banco Central del Ecuador Banco Pichincha Banco ProCredit Canal Uno Citibank Ecuador Corporacion Favorita DK Management Services Ecuavisa El Comercio GFK Corporación Hoy La Hora Marathon Sports Movistar Ecuador Petroecuador Produbanco SAEREO TAME Teleamazonas

• Companies of Ecuador
• Ecuadorian brands
• Sportswear brands
• Clothing companies established in 1981