Football giants

Chapter 231 That's so awesome!
In an Audi car returning to London from Southampton, Marcus Bowman frowned and stared at the side window in a daze.

He had just visited Southampton's Stapletwood training ground and left in shock.

There, he saw a product that surprised him.

Virtual reality headset!

This is not a very new technology, it has been around for many years.

There are even many companies and products that are applying this technology.

But that's just a very rudimentary use.

Over the past few years, venture capital has invested in this field without knowing how much money, but there is still no progress.

So far, there is only one company in the world that can make people see the opportunity to make mass-produced products and see such a skillful use of this technology.

But what really surprised Marcus Bowman was the amazing set of ideas mentioned by Southampton Marketing Director Sun Yue, which was to create a virtual training center.

This is definitely a genius and great idea.

Once successful, it will revolutionize the football world!

Why is Barcelona's dream team three great?Why is it great?
Timesi, Xavi, Iniesta and others only spoke on the surface.

The underlying core is that every player on this team has extremely solid basic skills.

In other words, the technical skills of every player on this team are higher than those of other teams.

The set of virtual training centers proposed by Southampton will transform the training of technical geniuses into a product that can be operated on an assembly line and mass-produced.

If realized, this will undoubtedly make a greater contribution than the Barcelona Dream Team!

This will revolutionize football, and even the entire sports world!
Because it can be used in football, it can also be used in basketball, rugby, volleyball, F1...

For sports equipment providers like Adidas, this system is not what they want.

What Marcus Bowman values ​​is the big data and analysis results behind this system.

In order to collect data and analysis results in this area, Adidas even assisted in the construction of a brand new training center for Ajax, which was officially opened in May this year.

But compared with the prospects outlined by Southampton, Ajax is just a child.

At the same time, the Adidas product development and design cycle has been greatly shortened by the virtual reality helmet.

Today's sports equipment is updated too fast, and the life cycle of a product is three months. For giants like Adidas and Nike, more investment is in R&D and design.

If the R&D and design cycle can be greatly shortened, the benefits for Adidas will be amazing.

"Jack, what do you think?"

Marcus Bowman let out a heavy breath, and asked Jack who was driving in the front seat.

"We shouldn't miss such an opportunity." Jack's tone was very sure.

"Oh?" Marcus Bowman was a little puzzled, but nodded.

This scene was seen by Jack from the rear view mirror.

"I heard that Nike's Bert Hoyet also visited the Stapletwood training base yesterday, but he rushed back to the United States last night. It seems that he is also very tempted."

Marcus Bowman felt a threat, "How could you not be tempted?"

What Southampton can now provide is not only the market share and influence of the United Kingdom.

More importantly, the technology and capabilities they now have are of great help to Nike and Adidas.

For such a giant, a one percent improvement represents hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

Not to mention, it's not just a matter of a few percent.

"Actually, Southampton's approach is quite unkind." Jack in the front row suddenly said with a wry smile.

"They first went to Nike to visit, and then they came to us to see. Maybe tomorrow they will go to Puma, Warrior Sports and other brands. It is clear that they want us to fight for blood, and then they sit and maximize their profits."

Marcus Bowman also smiled wryly, "Then what can I do?"

Business competition is inherently so realistic and cruel.

Southampton do have that right now, so they can do it.

Conversely, if there is an opportunity in the future, won't Adidas do the same?
Not to mention that Southampton now has such a set of tempting ideas, even if they don't, who is willing to let go easily now, Nike or Adidas, and miss the Great Saint in vain?
"Yeah, even if you know it, what can you do?" Jack smiled helplessly.

He is just so awesome, so arrogant, you just have nothing to do with him!
Sometimes when you think about it, it's really not easy.

A team in the English Championship is even more arrogant than Barcelona and Real Madrid in playing big names.

However, even giants like Nike and Adidas have to be convinced.

No wonder the Saints players and fans followed suit!
…………

…………

Nike headquarters in Portland, USA.

Bert? Hoyet did not expect that a piece of news he brought back from Europe not only surprised Phil McCartney, the vice president of Nike's athletics division, but also directly alarmed Nike CEO Mark Parker.

"Southampton?" Mark Parker was a fat middle-aged man with a beard.

"I know that this team has recently become famous in the United States."

Suddenly, Mark Parker asked with a smile: "Uncle Psy and Lin Yuner, what's the relationship with Southampton?"

This is also the doubt of many Americans.

Uncle Psy is so popular in the United States, it's a mess.

Some people even say that he is the most famous Chinese in the world. In the past year or so, almost no one would not know Uncle Psy.

Bert Hoyet smiled wryly, and explained the relationship between Uncle Psy, Lin Yuner, and Southampton.

After all, it's just a matter of one sentence.

"They are from the same boss. Uncle Psy and Lin Yuner are made famous by the boss of Southampton."

Mark Parker laughed immediately, "Recently their new single, The Fox Call, beat Justin Bieber in the United States, and it is very popular among young people."

Perhaps seeing Bert Hoyet was a little confused, Phil McCartney on the side explained.

"Adidas has always been very interested in cooperating with Uncle Psy and Yoona Lin, and hoped to invite them to be endorsers. We are also observing Uncle Psy and Yuner Lin recently. Their influence among young people is unparalleled!"

Now Bert? Hoyet understood.

Didn't you see the data of Youtubie?

In the age group of ten to 30 years old, it is the home of Uncle Psy and Lin Yuner!

"What do you think of the Southampton team?" asked Mark Parker.

Bert Hoyet thought for a while, "I mentioned this question to Kesh Harris, a famous investment expert in the City of London, several times. His answers, as well as my own observations, all feel that the prospects of this team are beyond doubt."

Neither Mark Parker nor Phil McCartney interrupted, letting him continue.

"This is a very different team, they are completely different from those traditional teams."

Mark Parker suddenly became interested, "What's the difference?"

"The simplest thing is, look, whether it's football, basketball, or rugby, when clubs in these fields introduce star players, they must try their best to hold a press conference with great momentum. They wish they could invite the media from all over the world to participate."

"What's the problem?" Phil McCartney was puzzled.

This is his professional field.

"Except for Southampton's participation in the press conferences required by the FA, almost all of their press conferences are done on WeChat and the Internet, including the introduction of stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar. Press conferences are held on WeChat."

Mark Parker smiled slightly, "It's really interesting, but holding a press conference on the Internet doesn't mean anything."

Does holding a press conference on the Internet mean that this football club has Internet awareness?
The term Internet is indeed very new, but who can say that they fully understand the meaning of this term?

Who can give an accurate definition of the so-called Internet thinking?

"Also, this team believes in the three no's principles. Players who don't want to play for them will not be brought in, players who want to leave will never be retained, and those who refuse to give their best for the Southampton game will not be killed."

Mark Parker was taken aback for a moment, and then he couldn't help laughing, "Weird, freak!"

"They didn't just talk about it. On the first day Yang Huan took over Southampton, he fired the head coach Alan Pardew, and then announced on the spot that anyone who wants to leave can transfer freely. As a result, several players left at once and lost millions of pounds. This is also unique in the field of football."

Mark? Parker and Phil? McCartney looked at each other, both feel that this team is indeed unique.

"Barcelona decided to sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic. We had no choice. The Swede almost went to Adidas' AC Milan. Fortunately, Southampton, who was in League One at the time, made a move. This can be regarded as indirectly helping us."

If you look at Ibrahimovic's resume, Ajax belongs to the Adidas camp, which is where he made his debut.

Since he became famous, from Juventus to Inter Milan to Barcelona, ​​the sponsors of these three teams are all Nike.

Behind these three transfers, Nike also played a certain role.

"This time, Sun Yue, Southampton's marketing director, personally promised me that Southampton will introduce another superstar player this summer."

"Who?" Mark Parker suddenly became curious.

Ibrahimovic can be recruited when he is in the League One, but who will be recruited when he is promoted to the British Championship?

"Drogba!"

"Drogba?" Mark Parker was a little shocked.

The CEO of Nike was the vice president of the athletics department before he became the top leader, and he is very familiar with the athletics field, especially the football field.

This habit and interest has continued until after he became CEO.

Nike has always attached great importance to the development of football, which is Nike's weakness.

"It's impossible!" Phil McCartney felt unbelievable.

Unless Chelsea is stupid, how could it be possible to sell the main center forward to a Championship team?
"I also thought it was impossible at first, but I received news that Chelsea's top management had notified Drogba's agent to let them report to Southampton for the new season, but Drogba's agent refused on the spot."

Mark? Parker and Phil? McCartney are a little dumbfounded.

What this means is self-evident.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar, if there is another Drogba, plus Neuer, Vidal and other powerful stars, Southampton's lineup will be very competitive even in the Premier League, not to mention the English Championship.

Just for this point, Nike must not ignore it.

What's more, Nike has always been at a disadvantage in the development of football, especially in technology research and development, losing to Adidas.

If Southampton's virtual training system and analysis center can really play a role, as long as the data and analysis results are shared, it will greatly make up for Nike's shortcomings in this regard.

For Nike, this sponsorship is undoubtedly a good thing that kills two birds with one stone.

Immediately, Bert Hoyet and Phil McCartney looked at Mark Parker in unison.

The bearded man in jeans and a shirt hesitated for a moment before making a decisive decision.

"Sign, sign before Adidas!"

　Thanks for the monthly ticket of the book friend [I Love Tang Monk Meat]!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)