75 years with
the Cloverleaves
PUMA and SpVgg Greuther Fürth celebrate 75 years since their first partnership
September 11, 2024PUMA and SpVgg Greuther Fürth celebrate 75 years since their first partnership
September 11, 202475 years ago, PUMA and football club SpVgg Greuther Fürth worked together for the first time. Since then, PUMA has accompanied SpVgg for a total of 29 seasons and through many significant moments in the club’s history. To mark this anniversary, we take a look back at our shared past.
Shortly after its foundation, SpVgg Fürth enjoyed great success in the 1910s and 1920s and established itself as one of the leading clubs in German football, competing internationally with other major teams such as FC Barcelona. After the end of the Second World War, however, SpVgg was relegated to the second division – albeit only briefly. In the history of German football, there are few successes as remarkable as that of SpVgg Fürth in the 1949/50 season. The team was promoted again and immediately afterwards became South German champions and impressed in the matches for the German football championship with outstanding performances.
“For me, my team and many sport fans, the ‘top class’ football boot – extra-light – with the new strap guide has become an aid to victory”
A key element of this success was the choice of footwear: the 1st team of the tradition steeped SpVgg Fürth wore PUMA football boots exclusively in all matches from promotion to the championship. This decision was based on enthusiasm for the sporty design, excellent fit, and high quality of PUMA shoes. In training, the team relied on PUMA’s universal shoes, while in competitions they chose PUMA football boots especially developed for football.
"For over two years, we have been looking for a football boot that meets the demands that today's players place on their football boots. We are now relieved of this worry. The new PUMA football boot has proved its worth and met with general approval. The strap guidance can be considered ideal and gives the player the ultimate security that must be given, especially when striving for top performance."
To celebrate a successful season and the rewarding cooperation,
a friendly match was played between the ‘Kleeblatt’ and the ‘PUMA Werkself’.
Even in the years following the great success of 1950, the partnership was characterized by consistency. Numerous Fürth players wore PUMA football boots and provided valuable feedback for the improvement and further development of the boots. After the 1970/71 season, Rudolf Dassler personally presented Fürth goalkeeper Peter Löwer with the “Silver Glove” – an honor for the best goalkeeper in the regional league.
From the second half of the 1970s, PUMA also supplied SpVgg Fürth with jerseys, further strengthening the partnership.
As seen in this image, Duncan Lambie and Klaus Heinlein against FSV Frankfurt 1977
Nevertheless, the 1970s were a difficult time for SpVgg Fürth, as financial problems led to relegation from the second to the third division. In 1996, a significant merger with the football department of TSV Vestenbergsgreuth took place, which was a turning point. The merger gave the club its current name, SpVgg Greuther Fürth. From this point on, a new logo, which included the traditional cloverleaf of Fürth as well as the clog of TSV Vestenbergsgreuth, could be seen on the jerseys. In the very season following the merger, the club was promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga, from which it has not been relegated since.
From the PUMA Archive:
Left jersey from the 1996/97 season
right jersey from the 1999/2000 season
After a break of a few years, PUMA and SpVgg renewed their cooperation in 2020/21 and due to their special connection, this decision did not seem surprising: Through highs and lows – PUMA has accompanied SpVgg through many historic moments in the club’s history. The football club is one of the first to be equipped with football boots manufactured by PUMA, making it one of the longest partnerships with a football club.
Last year we celebrated PUMA’s 75th birthday and the 120th Birthday of SpVgg Greuther Fürth together.
We wish SpVgg Greuther Fürth every success for the season and look forward to continuing to accompany them on their future journey!
