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Spain captain and Chelsea midfielder help new soccer brand Storelli reinvent the way players gear up
Brooklyn, New York – They may have faced one another on opposing sides of the pitch, but today international soccer players Iker Casillas and Oscar team up to pioneer a new innovation in soccer.
Brooklyn-based sports technology start-up Storelli released a new campaign featuring Casillas and Oscar after signing the soccer stars as global brand ambassadors, a huge coup for the industry newcomer.
Storelli, the only brand dedicated to creating innovative injury-preventing performance gear for soccer players of all ages, genders and positions, is collaborating with the superstar athletes to launch a new category in the sport that reimagines what soccer gear looks like, enabling players to withstand the physicality of the modern game without compromising on speed and performance.
The campaign kicks-off with ‘The Dark Side of the Beautiful Game’, a film featuring Casillas and Oscar in a gritty underground Brooklyn warehouse participating in a fight club-esque soccer training session in the early hours of the morning. They recruit and coach a crop of talented players about the injuries, hits and tackles inherent in soccer, and how they can protect themselves, in an aggressive, full-contact training session in the run-down location.
Iker Casillas, FC Porto and Spain captain and goalkeeper, said,“We have joined forces to motivate a new generation of soccer players to be smarter, more prepared and more focused on potential versus their limits.
“I look forward to working closely with Storelli to provide my feedback as they further develop their range.”
Chelsea FC and Brazil midfielder Oscar said,“People think of soccer as the beautiful game, but it’s hard out there. Injuries are costly in this game. So, as players, we do everything we can to protect ourselves. There is no reason for us not to be prepared. Storelli elevates my game and helps me to gain an advantage over my opponents.”
Soccer is the most played sport in the world, counting over 250 million active players according to FIFA. What many do not realize is that soccer also boasts one of the highest injury rates: more than contact sports like hockey or lacrosse, according to some studies. Yet there has been little equipment to offer protection, leaving millions exposed to risks ranging from turf burns to head injuries.
Storelli was founded by athletes on a mission to revolutionize the equipment market, developing products that offer full-body protection and enhance performance. It has grown from small start-up in the hard-working, creative borough of Brooklyn to one of the industry’s most exciting new brands. Taking inspiration from the world of extreme sports, Storelli’s apparel line incorporates proprietary, patent-pending technologies and sleek, intelligent design to better absorb impact; minimize and prevent abrasions, cuts and bruises; and take the pain out of the game to enhance performance and enjoyment.
Claudio Storelli, founder and CEO of Storelli, said, “Sometimes the beautiful game can be quite ugly and protection against injuries from contusions, lacerations and turf burns is crucial to keep players on the pitch and focused on the game. In soccer there is so much innovation when it comes to footwear and kits, yet little when it comes to protection.
“Our gear is made by and for soccer players, and both Casillas and Oscar recognize that what we are doing represents the future of the sport. It represents a logical evolution akin to that undergone by sports like American football, baseball, hockey, or skiing, where helmets or padding were once not widely used. As each sport matured, the risks involved were recognized and protective measures were adopted that are now the norm. We are bringing the same type of evolution into soccer: educating consumers about risks and creating innovative solutions that help players perform better and for longer.”
Mark Schermers, Chief Marketing Officer of Storelli, said, “Storelli is breaking with conventions around soccer protection. We are reframing what performance gear is and the film featuring superstars Casillas and Oscar showcases how Storelli is a potent antidote to injuries – a secret weapon – that fuses protection with performance to give athletes an edge and the confidence they need to break both physical and mental boundaries.
“We’d like to shine the light on a new generation of athletes – both male and female – who realize that performing at a top level consistently is as much about using their smarts as anything else”
“The backdrop for the film with Oscar and Casillas is in Brooklyn, as the borough’s DNA and spirit has shaped our brand into the ambitious, disruptive one it is today.”
For more information visit Storelli.com and watch the film here.