In some ways Pele himself is accountable for not capitalizing on his superstar status. While serving as an worldwide ambassador for soccer, he has never served as coach or a top team executive, or as a major television commentator in the spirit of ex-NFL great John Madden or golf's Johnny Miller. Many of Pele's attempts to score in the business world have also fallen short. He owned a construction company that went bust and a sports-marketing firm that collapsed amid a financial scandal. His product endorsements included a successful relationship with MasterCard but also a line of retro sportswear from Puma in 2005 that failed to take off. Pele can also blame the year of his birth, as his career ended just before the emergence of the modern sports-marketing behemoths currently filling athlete's pockets.
Defending the new Nomis deal, Pele says that he still possesses the branding power to compete in a youth-dominated industry. "My career gives my brand positive values and attributes and a message that goes from generation to generation," Pele said. "It's not like athletes now that are at the top of the game and then start playing badly. In my career, I have done it all. My message is clear from generation to generation. Pele is a guarantee."
Read the original story...



No comments yet.

