Tag: FC Barcelona

We Predict… The 2022-23 Season

August 5, 2022
Previews and Predictions

Precious few feelings match the optimism that swells before the opening weekend of a new season. The possibilities for your team are endless and unbound, the hype surrounding your big summer signing reaches its intoxicating peak and with each empty league table sprawled out like a blank canvas you may even begin to dream of silverware.

That is, right up until your meathead of a centre-back gets sent off 15 minutes into the first half while your marquee signing breaks his foot and you end up losing the opening game 3-1.

But enough about Everton! For now, the season ahead is a mystery that has us all guessing what’s to come. And so, it’s time for our annual season predictions blog from the hard-working and devilishly handsome staff behind Icons.com who, year after year and season after season, gaze into their respective crystal balls, summon the power of Nostradamus and… get almost every single facet of these predictions utterly and hopelessly wrong.

Think you’ve got a more accurate vision of the 2022-23 campaign? You’re probably right! So why not send us your predictions for the season ahead on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. We dare you.

And, of course, be sure to check out our excellent range of signed memorabilia from Premier League stars past and present – available right now on Icons.com. So, on to our predictions…

Manchester City fans have high hopes for new striker Erling Haaland

Edward Freedman, Non-Executive Chairman

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY will retain their title with fresh blood and new ideas under Pep Guardiola.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Tottenham Hotspur  4th – Chelsea
Relegated: Fulham, AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa
Golden Boot: Manchester City’s ERLING HAALAND arrives for just over £50million and will light up the Premier League with his considerable talent.

Serie A winners: AC MILAN
La Liga winners: FC BARCELONA
Bundesliga winners: zzzzzzzz… BAYERN MUNICH… zzzzzzzz…

UEFA Champions League winners: I may be dreaming when I choose FC BARCELONA but that’s allowed, isn’t it?
UEFA Europa League winners: Mikel Arteta’s ARSENAL will win Europe’s second biggest prize.

Signing of the season: Liverpool FC’s capture of the dynamic young attacking midfielder FABIO CARVALHO looks shrewd.

Mark my words… Ten Hag, Nine Hag, Eight Hag, Seven Hag, Six Hag, Five Hag, Four Hag, Three Hag, Two Hag, One Hag… no Hag!

Liverpool FC fans’ favourite Mohamed Salah is primed for another Golden Boot campaign

Dan Jamieson, CEO

Premier League winners: LIVERPOOL FC will take the title back from Manchester City, I just know it.
2nd – Manchester City  3rd – Chelsea  4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Everton
Golden Boot: My man MOHAMED SALAH will equal Thierry Henry‘s record of four Premier League Golden Boots in 2022-23.

Serie A winners: AC MILAN, who I have big hopes for this year…
La Liga winners: Our friends at FC BARCELONA
Bundesliga winners: This will be BAYERN MUNICH once again (yawn!)

UEFA Champions League winners: Jurgen Klopp told me to book my hotel for the final in Istanbul so of course it will be LIVERPOOL FC.
UEFA Europa League winners: Jose Mourinho‘s AS ROMA will add to last season’s UEFA Conference League with this, his third UEL title.

Signing of the season: RAHEEM STERLING will do much better than Romelu Lukaku in Thomas Tuchel’s system.

My team, Liverpool FC, will… best Manchester City over the course of the season with continuity and cohesiveness our trump cards. I think City have gone backwards and Erling Haaland will clog up their smooth scoring engine.

Mark my words… Haaland will be a sub by Christmas when Pep realises his mistake. The Ten in Eric Ten Hag is the number of seasons Manchester United are going to need to properly rebuild.

FC Barcelona have been busy this summer with the notable capture of Robert Lewandowski

Ben Soley, Head of Sales

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY. It’s gutting, but I can’t look past them winning a third in a row and five of the last six based on their signings. Erling Haaland should tear it up while Kalvin Phillips provides great cover and Julian Alvarez will have a greater impact than expected. 
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Brentford
Golden Boot: With Liverpool FC scoring highly again this season, their penalty taker, MOHAMED SALAH, will surely be among the goals again, not to mention he will get a good rest while others are at the FIFA World Cup.

Serie A winners: INTERNAZIONALE. The title move back across town to I Nerazzurri.
La Liga winners: FC BARCELONA‘s somewhat chaotic spending spree will
pay off – in their domestic campaign at least.
Bundesliga winners: I don’t believe a Borussia Dortmund without Erling Haaland or RB Leipzig can compete with BAYERN MUNICH, who’ve added Sadio Mane.

UEFA Champions League winners: MANCHESTER CITY will finally win the big one.
UEFA Europa League winners: AS ROMA. Jose Mourinho knows all about tournament football and will want to bring more trophies to Rome. they’ve also made strong signings in Zeki Celik, Paulo Dybala and Nemanja Matic. 

Signing of the season: Brentford have unearthed a gem of a left-back from Bologna in AARON HICKEY. The Scot is great going forward and with a killer set-piece in his arsenal £17million is a steal.

My team, Liverpool FC, will… focus on the Premier League after spreading thin last season to compete on four fronts. There will be silverware come the end of the season but it’s hard to put a finger on which kind!

Mark my words… Liverpool FC and Man City will be separated by a maximum of three points come the end of the season. Robert Lewandowski will hit the woodwork more than any player in La Liga. Aleksandar Mitrovic will score more times than he is carded.

Lionel Messi will hope Paris Saint-Germain can go further in the UEFA Champions League

Alistair Hunter, Senior Editor

Premier League winners: There’s no need to overthink this. MANCHESTER CITY will retain their title.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Everton and Southampton
Golden Boot: My theory is this. ERLING HAALAND was actually created in an underground lab on the City Campus, manufactured to one day score 50 goals in a Premier League season. They sent him to Norway as a boy to throw us off the scent.

Serie A winners: I think this will be a special one… I’m going with AS ROMA to upset the odds now Paulo Dybala is unleashed.
La Liga winners: FC BARCELONA are selling the farm to win now so they better win now.
Bundesliga winners: Death, taxes, BAYERN MUNICH.

UEFA Champions League winners: If you read these predictions blogs every year you’ll know I’ve gone for PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN each year for the past five years. Giving up on Lionel Messi‘s side now feels dangerous.
UEFA Europa League winners: I was there as Rangers FC lost on penalties in last season’s final so it feels too soon to ask me this. For old time’s sake I’ll pick SEVILLA. Wait… Seville… oh god!

Signing of the season: No-one will want to admit (for some reason) that RAHEEM STERLING is a world class winger who adds a lot of quality to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.

My team, Rangers, will… battle relentlessly with Celtic and ultimately wrestle the Scottish title back by a solitary point in one of the most pulsating (and controversial) seasons in history. They will not – I repeat, not – enjoy the introduction of VAR north of the border.

Mark my words… either Manchester City or Liverpool will score 8+ goals in a Premier League game. The raucous atmosphere of an impassioned City Ground will vault Nottingham Forest into the top half.

Pep Guardiola’s City have their sights on yet more silverware in 2022-23

David Cox, Head of Operations

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY, because who else?!
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Arsenal
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Fulham and Brentford
Golden Boot: Liverpool’s MOHAMED SALAH wins back-to-back Golden Boots.

Serie A winners: AS ROMA
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH

UEFA Champions League winners: The time has come for my MANCHESTER CITY to win their very first European crown, surely?
UEFA Europa League winners: ARSENAL

Signing of the season: GABRIEL JESUS is a great player who was never really given a starting role at City. If he starts regularly at Arsenal he’ll bang them in. 

My team, Manchester City, will… finally prove the doubters wrong and win the UEFA Champions League.

Mark my words… Again, Manchester United still won’t manage to break into the top four – I’d be surprised if they made the top six! 

The pressure’s on Eric Ten Hag at Manchester United – can he deliver at top four finish?

Jamie White, Digital Content Producer

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Manchester United
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Fulham and Leeds United
Golden Boot: Liverpool’s MOHAMED SALAH is always up there and he isn;t going to the FIFA Word Cup so will have a nice break in the winter.

Serie A winners: JUVENTUS
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH because who else?!

UEFA Champions League winners: LIVERPOOL FC
UEFA Europa League winners: ARSENAL

Signing of the season: ERLING HAALAND looks set to be a monster player for Manchester City, who got an incredible deal for him. I do also believe Gabriel Jesus will do well at Arsenal.

My team, Liverpool FC, will… run City close but I can see a repeat of last season with the Reds missing out by a few points once again.

Mark my words… AFC Bournemouth will finish bottom and become the whipping boys of the season.

Jude Bellingham gives BVB hopes of busting Bayern’s decade-long dominance in Germany

Dan Rushton, Customer Support

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY – just about. I think City have a slight edge on Liverpool this season in terms of depth. It’s going to be close again but if Haaland adapts quickly and gels with his team-mates they’ll be the winners.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Arsenal (trust the process) 4th – Chelsea
Relegated: Southampton, Fulham and Leeds United
Golden Boot: HARRY KANE. I think Tottenham will have a go at it this year but I do still think the top four is going to be a big ask. If Kane stays fit I’m sure he’ll be scoring on a weekly basis. 

Serie A winners: INTERNAZIONALE missed out on the title by two points last year. They’ll want to take it back!
La Liga winners: I just don’t think FC Barcelona will do it this year with the amount of new players they need to gel together. European champions REAL MADRID CF will be tough to dismantle.
Bundesliga winners: Both Bayern and BORUSSIA DORTMUND have lost some firepower which might bring other teams into the fray but I also think it’s about time Dortmund took their first title in just over 10 years. Jude Bellingham is in for a great season. 

UEFA Champions League winners: MANCHESTER CITY are going to make a real go of it this year and I genuinely believe they can do it. I’m predicting a Liverpool v City final!
UEFA Europa League winners: I wanted to say Arsenal but I think their focus is going to be on the league and a top four finish. AS ROMA won’t take any prisoners this year.

Signing of the season: It’s between Haaland and GABRIEL JESUS but I will go for the latter. I think he’s going to absolutely smash it at Arsenal as he has already shown in pre-season. 

My team, Birmingham City, will… be rubbish again as per-usual. Blues will be dragged into their tenth consecutive relegation dogfight and probably survive by getting a point at Sheffield United on the last game of the season.

Mark my words… Nottingham Forest will spend most of the season on the fringes of a top six finish. 

Harry Kane will look to further cement his Premier League legacy in a FIFA World Cup year

Will Franklin, Sales Executive

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Southampton
Golden Boot: HARRY KANE is set for another big year of goals with the FIFA World Cup in between to boot.

Serie A winners: INTERNAZIONALE
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH

UEFA Champions League winners: LIVERPOOL FC
UEFA Europa League winners: AS ROMA

Signing of the season: Tottenham’s acquisition of Ivorian midfielder YVES BISSOUMA from Brighton & Hove Albion will prove an excellent purchase.

My team, Aston Villa, will… finish 7th. Leon Bailey and Diego Carlos will have great seasons (I hope). 

Mark my words… Cameron Archer will light up the Premier League.

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea face an intriguing campaign both on and off the pitch

Dan Hunt, Accounts Assistant

Premier League winners: With the signing of Erling Haaland, MANCHESTER CITY will be clear winners of the title.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Arsenal 4th – Manchester United
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Fulham
Golden Boot: If fit, ERLING HAALAND will score 30 goals or more.

Serie A winners: JUVENTUS
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH, obviously!

UEFA Champions League winners: MANCHESTER CITY
UEFA Europa League winners: Perennial winners SEVILLA will drop out of the UEFA Champions League to win another UEL title.

Signing of the season: West Ham United finally have a striker who will score goals for the club in GIANLUCA SCAMACCA.

My team, West Ham United, will… finish in 5th place, just a few points shy of the top four and a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

Mark my words… Chelsea will start off very slowly and Thomas Tuchel will be the first manager sacked, shortly followed by Frank Lampard. Manchester City will have another 100+ point season.


Dutch Poacher Patrick Kluivert Signs with Icons.com!

July 26, 2022
Signing Sessions

Icons.com is delighted to announce that we have added yet another name to the illustrious list of stars to have signed with us – this time it’s former FC Barcelona and Netherlands striker Patrick Kluivert!

The private signing session took place in Barcelona on July 26th, 2022 at which Kluivert added his signature to a vast array of fantastic new items including shirts, boots, balls and photos.

Kluivert signed Netherlands, FC Barcelona and Ajax shirts are available to buy not only in sleek Icons.com presentation options but also in our official and exclusive FC Barcelona, UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup memorabilia collections.

The Dutchman began his career at Eredivisie club Ajax and made a total of 100 appearances for the former European champions across three seasons, scoring 52 goals. After a brief spell at AC Milan, Kluivert was snapped up by Catalan giants FC Barcelona.

In his first season he helped La Blaugrana lift the La Liga title with 16 goals from 38 appearances. He was prolific in the following seasons as well and finished his FC Barcelona career with 122 goals from 257 appearances.

Kluivert also spent a season at Premier League club Newcastle United and was their top scorer during their 2005-05 UEFA Champions League campaign. Spells at Valencia, PSV and Lille followed before his retirement in 2008.

Each and every item of Patrick Kluivert signed memorabilia will come with an official Certificate of Authenticity, which serves as your proof that Kluivert’s signature is 100% authentic and was genuinely signed by the man himself during this private signing session, organised and conducted by our dedicated signing team.

The full range of Kluivert signed memorabilia is available to buy now from Icons.com.

For all the latest on the next global megastar to sign with Icons.com – as well as early access to products and exclusive discounts, giveaways and much more – make sure you’re subscribed to the official Icons.com email newsletter. Sign up today via icons.com/newsletter.


Second Messi Signing of 2022 for Icons.com!

May 23, 2022
Signing Sessions

Global megastar Lionel Messi has yet again put pen to product in an exclusive new official signing with Icons.com.

In his second signing of 2022, Messi added his signature to even more incredible Official Messi Signed Merchandise. The signing took place on May 23rd, 2022 in the French capital of Paris.

Messi signed FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina shirts are available to buy online now in our official and exclusive FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup memorabilia collections.

Messi, who is currently strutting his stuff along side fellow icon Neymar Jr for Paris Saint-Germain, has enjoyed what is among the most remarkable careers in all of football history.

To name but a few of Messi’s honours, he boasts an incredible seven Ballon d’Ors, 10 La Liga titles, and four UEFA Champions League winner’s medals. He most recently won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain in 2021-22.

It’s safe to say Messi’s ability will be hard to emulate for some years to come. That’s why Icons are so proud to have been with him every step of the way for almost 20 years.

Every single piece of Official Messi Signed Merchandise comes with a Certificate of Authenticity that shows Messi signing one of the items at the session, as well as the date and location of the signing. The COA is created under license by Icons.com.

For the latest on who we sign with next, as well as early access to products and exclusive discounts, giveaways and much more, make sure you’re subscribed to the Icons.com email newsletter. Sign up today via icons.com/newsletter.


CLOSED | GIVEAWAY! Win One of TEN Messi Signed Official FC Barcelona Framed Shirts!

May 10, 2021
Giveaways & Competitions

This is it, our biggest giveaway ever! And that’s saying something… We’ve teamed up with global super star LIONEL MESSI (yes, the Lionel Messi!) to give away TEN signed and official FC Barcelona framed shirts.

We are giving away FIVE shirts on Facebook and FIVE on Instagram, so there’s more chance than ever to win from this gigantic giveaway!

The shirts were signed by Messi during a private signing session in Barcelona on April 28th and are displayed in our exclusive Official FC Barcelona Signed Memorabilia framing.

Best of all, it could not be simpler to enter this great giveaway! Simply follow the steps below and you’ll be in with a shout of taking home one of these brilliant prizes.

TO ENTER VIA FACEBOOK:

1) TAG a friend in the comments of the giveaway post

AND

2) LIKE Icons.com’s official Facebook account

TO ENTER VIA INSTAGRAM:

1) TAG a friend in the comments of the giveaway post

AND

2) FOLLOW Icons.com’s official Instagram account

The prize is a Lionel Messi Official FC Barcelona Back Signed and Framed 2020-21 Home Shirt (Icons.com SKU ICLMBS118FCBF), which comes complete with an official FC Barcelona Certificate of Authenticity (COA). The COA has photographic evidence of Messi with the shirt in question as well as providing the location at which the shirt was signed – so you can be sure this is the real deal! For more information, check out the shirt on Icons.com.

Entries for this giveaway will close at midnight (GMT) on Monday May 17th 2021.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  1. The Promoter of this prize draw is Icons Shop Limited (registered in England under company number 06791294 and with its registered office at Unit 7, Airfield Industrial Estate, Airfield Way, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 3PE) (the “Promoter”).
  2. The Promoter is offering those who enter this promotion a chance to win one of ten Lionel Messi Official FC Barcelona Back Signed and Framed 2020-21 Home Shirts (Icons.com SKU ICLMBS118FCBF).
  3. Multiple entries per person are permitted. Entries will be accepted on Facebook and Instagram only, provided they fit the entry criteria outlined in these terms and conditions. However, entries submitted on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed. Incomplete, illegible, misdirected or late entries will not be accepted.
  4. To enter this prize draw on Facebook, entrants must like Messi’s official Facebook page (facebook.com/leomessi), like Icons.com’s official Facebook account (facebook.com/iconsfootball) and tag an account that is not their own in the comments of the official giveaway post.
  5. To enter this prize draw on Instagram, entrants must follow Messi’s official Instagram account (@leomessi), follow Icons.com’s official Instagram account (@icons_memorabilia) and tag an account that is not their own in the comments of the official giveaway post.
  6. The ten winners of the giveaway will be selected at random by Icons.com.
  7. No purchase is necessary to enter this promotion, however internet access is required.
  8. Only one winner will be drawn. The prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and non-exchangeable and there is no cash alternative offered.
  9. The Promoter reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value. In the event of unforeseen circumstances or circumstances outside its reasonable control, the Promoter reserves the right to modify or discontinue this promotion without prior notice, be it temporarily or permanently.
  10. The winner(s) will be selected from all valid entries received during the promotional period. The draw will take place no later than fourteen days following the end of the promotional period.
  11. The winner(s) will be notified within ten days of the draw via the social network platform on which they entered the competition. They will be asked to provide a postal address to which the prize will be sent. If either winner(s) fails to respond and/or to give a valid address within five days of this notification, or declines their prize, a redraw will take place from the remaining valid entries to select a new winner(s) (however, this five-day period may be extended at the Promoter’s sole discretion). If either winner(s) declines their prize, or fails to respond within the required period, they forfeit any right to the prize.
  12. The prize will be sent via post to the address supplied within two weeks following provision of the winner(s)’s address in accordance with the T&Cs.
  13. The name and county of residence of the winner(s) will be made available on request to anyone sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Promoter as the address set out above within 10 weeks of the closing date of the promotion.
  14. The Promoter does not accept responsibility for network, computer or software failures of any kind and has no responsibility for lost, delayed or misdirected entries.
  15. The Promoter reserves the right to exclude any entries the Promoter in its sole discretion considers to be inappropriate, unrelated or offensive and to disqualify any entries if the Promoter, at its sole discretion, believes that there has been an attempt to manipulate or tamper with the operation of the promotion (including, without limitation, by setting up multiple email, Facebook or other social media accounts in order to submit multiple entries).
  16. By entering this competition you agree that the promoter may store and use the data you enter into this competition and contact you. You agree that the promoter may store and use any image and/or comment you post as your entry for this competition, and may use your name and competition entry in its social media channels and website (including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and icons.com), worldwide and without limit of time. You understand that you won’t have any right to preview or pre-approve the content (and, that you won’t be entitled to any kind of payment) in the event that it is used by Icons as noted above.
  17. Except for the purpose of carrying out the promotion, the Promoter will not use entrants’ personal data without the express consent of the entrant. See http://www.icons.com/about/help/privacy-policy.html for our full privacy policy.
  18. You agree to be bound by the decisions of the Promoter, which are final in all matters relating to the promotion. No correspondence will be entered into in respect of the Promoter’s decisions.
  19. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of England and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England, including the seeking of all injunctive or ancillary relief actions.

Shop from our full range of 100% Official Messi Signed Merchandise signed items by visiting Icons.com today…

Follow Icons on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all our latest blog posts, special offers and competitions.


CLOSED | GIVEAWAY! Win A Xavi & Messi Signed Official FC Barcelona Framed Captain’s Armband!

March 24, 2021
Giveaways & Competitions

To celebrate a historic moment in the grand story of FC Barcelona, as Lionel Messi becomes the club’s all-time appearance maker, former captain and Blaugrana legend Xavi is giving away a dual signed and framed captain’s armband with Icons.com!

The armband was signed by both Xavi and Messi and is displayed in our exclusive Official FC Barcelona Signed Memorabilia framing.

Best of all, it could not be simpler to enter this great giveaway! Simply follow the steps below and you’ll be in with a shout of taking home this brilliant prize.

TO ENTER VIA INSTAGRAM:

1) FOLLOW Xavi’s official Instagram account

2) COMMENT on the giveaway post

AND

3) FOLLOW Icons.com’s official Instagram account

The prize being given away is 1 x Xavi & Lionel Messi Official FC Barcelona Signed and Framed Captain’s Armband (Icons.com SKU ICXLMBARM1FCBF), which comes complete with an official FC Barcelona Certificate of Authenticity. The COA has photographic evidence of both Xavi and Messi with the armband in question as well as providing the locations at which the armband was signed – so you can be sure this is the real deal! For more information, check out the armband on Icons.com.

Entries for this giveaway will close at midnight (GMT) on Tuesday March 31st 2021.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  1. The Promoter of this prize draw is Icons Shop Limited (registered in England under company number 06791294 and with its registered office at Unit 7, Airfield Industrial Estate, Airfield Way, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 3PE) (the “Promoter”).
  2. The Promoter is offering those who enter this promotion a chance to win a Xavi & Lionel Messi Official FC Barcelona Signed and Framed Captain’s Armband (Icons.com SKU ICXLMBARM1FCBF).
  3. Multiple entries per person are permitted. Entries will be accepted on Instagram only, provided they fit the entry criteria outlined in these terms and conditions. However, entries submitted on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed. Incomplete, illegible, misdirected or late entries will not be accepted.
  4. To enter this prize draw on Instagram, entrants must follow Xavi’s official Instagram account (@xavi), follow Icons.com’s official Instagram account (@icons_memorabilia) and comment on Xavi’s official giveaway post.
  5. The winner of the giveaway will be selected at random by Icons.com.
  6. No purchase is necessary to enter this promotion, however internet access is required.
  7. Only one winner will be drawn. The prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and non-exchangeable and there is no cash alternative offered.
  8. The Promoter reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value. In the event of unforeseen circumstances or circumstances outside its reasonable control, the Promoter reserves the right to modify or discontinue this promotion without prior notice, be it temporarily or permanently.
  9. The winner will be selected from all valid entries received during the promotional period. The draw will take place no later than fourteen days following the end of the promotional period.
  10. The winner will be notified within five days of the draw via the social network platform on which they entered the competition. They will be asked to provide a postal address to which the prize will be sent. If either winner fails to respond and/or to give a valid address within five days of this notification, or declines their prize, a redraw will take place from the remaining valid entries to select a new winner (however, this five-day period may be extended at the Promoter’s sole discretion). If either winner declines their prize, or fails to respond within the required period, they forfeit any right to the prize.
  11. The prize will be sent via post to the address supplied within two weeks following provision of the winner’s address in accordance with the T&Cs.
  12. The name and county of residence of the winners will be made available on request to anyone sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Promoter as the address set out above within 10 weeks of the closing date of the promotion.
  13. The Promoter does not accept responsibility for network, computer or software failures of any kind and has no responsibility for lost, delayed or misdirected entries.
  14. The Promoter reserves the right to exclude any entries the Promoter in its sole discretion considers to be inappropriate, unrelated or offensive and to disqualify any entries if the Promoter, at its sole discretion, believes that there has been an attempt to manipulate or tamper with the operation of the promotion (including, without limitation, by setting up multiple email, Facebook or other social media accounts in order to submit multiple entries).
  15. By entering this competition you agree that the promoter may store and use the data you enter into this competition and contact you. You agree that the promoter may store and use any image and/or comment you post as your entry for this competition, and may use your name and competition entry in its social media channels and website (including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and icons.com), worldwide and without limit of time. You understand that you won’t have any right to preview or pre-approve the content (and, that you won’t be entitled to any kind of payment) in the event that it is used by Icons as noted above.
  16. Except for the purpose of carrying out the promotion, the Promoter will not use entrants’ personal data without the express consent of the entrant. See http://www.icons.com/about/help/privacy-policy.html for our full privacy policy.
  17. You agree to be bound by the decisions of the Promoter, which are final in all matters relating to the promotion. No correspondence will be entered into in respect of the Promoter’s decisions.
  18. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of England and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England, including the seeking of all injunctive or ancillary relief actions.

Shop from our full range of 100% authentic Xavi signed items by visiting Icons.com today…

Follow Icons on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all our latest blog posts, special offers and competitions.


FC Barcelona & Spain Legend Xavi Signs for Icons.com!

March 5, 2021
Signing Sessions

Today we are excited to announce the latest iconic name to sign memorabilia for Icons.com: former FC Barcelona and Spain midfield maestro Xavi!

Signing behind closed doors at a private session in Qatar on February 8th this year, Xavi added his signature to a wide range of incredible new items, including shirts, photos, boots, balls and more. 

Alongside his countryman Andres Iniesta, Xavi stood out among a number of truly great players during a spell of unprecedented success for both his club and country. A midfielder with a unique ability to make his complex role in an elaborate system look as easy as a walk in the park, Xavi was best at controlling the tempo of a match with his spectacular vision and range of passing.

Xavi signed FC Barcelona and Spain memorabilia will be available to buy not only in our sleek Icons.com presentation options but also in our official and exclusive FC Barcelona, UEFA Champions League, UEFA EURO 2020 and FIFA World Cup memorabilia ranges.

The full range of Xavi signed memorabilia is available to buy now exclusively from Icons.com!

Each and every item of Xavi signed memorabilia will come with an official Certificate of Authenticity, which serves as your proof that Xavi’s signature is 100% authentic and was genuinely signed by the man himself during this private signing session, organised by our dedicated signing team.

For all the latest on which global megastar we sign with next, as well as early access to products and exclusive discounts, giveaways and much more, make sure you’re subscribed to the Icons.com email newsletter. Sign up today via icons.com/newsletter.

This is Icons.com, we are Official. Authentic. Exclusive.


From Our CEO: The Inside Story of Diego & Icons

February 1, 2021
From Our CEO Signing Sessions Why We Love

Take it from me: Diego Maradona was unlike any other footballer and unlike any other person we have ever dealt with. It’s true, he was at times difficult, tempestuous and unreliable but he was also unquestionably charismatic, astonishing and unique.

From first contact to the present day, as we launch our ultimate and exclusive range of Maradona signed memorabilia, this is just part of the extraordinary story of our relationship with the man, the myth and the legend that is Diego Armando Maradona.

I first met Diego in Buenos Aires in May 2010. Those at the company who had previous with him knew we needed to give him about a week to get around to doing a signing session – and even then nothing was guaranteed. In fact, there was one time our team had flown from the UK to Argentina with hundreds of items in tow only to find Diego had left town, without word, for a nine-day holiday.

So you could say I knew I would need to be on my toes for this trip. How much? Well, there we were, the Icons signing team, out drinking past midnight in the fashionable Palermo district of one of the world’s most exciting cities, enjoying what we thought was a night off. The phone rang. ‘Diego will see you now.’

We raced back to the hotel, grabbed as many items as we could carry and jumped in a cab to, of all places, Diego Maradona’s mum’s house. We entered a darkly-lit front room – not exactly the most bizarre setting for a signing but certainly up there – when all of a sudden he emerged, like the human deity he was.

Icons CEO Dan Jamieson at Diego’s house in Dubai

Once he’d figured out who we were, he was as charismatic as you’d expect, posing for photos and generally loving being the centre of attention. The signing went smoothly and even included a special request for a dedication for a certain Mr Wayne Rooney. This was mid 2010 and Diego was the manager of Argentina, shouldering hopes of leading Lionel Messi and his teammates to FIFA World Cup glory in South Africa. Sadly for both Diego and Lionel – and Wayne, too – that wasn’t quite to be.

Even back then Icons had a worldwide-exclusive signing contract with Diego and with him we conducted a further two sessions after he’d moved to Dubai. It would be nice to say that signings with Diego were always hassle-free but this blog is about the truth of our relationship.

On one occasion it took a full week to get our items signed as he had fired all his team and suddenly wasn’t taking any visitors. A couple of years after we’d completed our two-session contract we tried to re-engage with him and were given the green light to buy stock in readiness for another signing only for the phone lines to go cold. For three years we were left with boxes and boxes of unsigned shirts, boots and photos, obliged also to return payments to our pre-order customers. 

After that we waited. And so did you.

Fast forward to 2018 and Diego is managing Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico. So I reach out to a good friend of ours, Emilio, who is a top commercial agent in Mexico City. And so begun a 20-month-long negotiation to get Diego to come back and be an Icon again.

The phone rang. ‘Diego will see you now.’

I was sure we had it done in the spring of 2019. He was all due to sign a contract that was sat on his desk but first, and very reasonably, he had to concentrate on his side’s promotion campaign, the highs and eventual lows of which can be seen in painstaking detail on Netflix. Too tired and emotional after (spoiler alert!) losing in the final, he left Mexico entirely, returning to Argentina for urgent hip-replacement surgery.

The trail had gone cold again.

Sometimes in our line of work the most effective solutions are the simplest and most obvious. So, in May last year, that torrid excuse for a year we call 2020, we gave up on nuanced negotiations and just asked plain and simple: ‘Diego… what’s your price?’

By now the world had all but closed down due to Covid-19. And while we usually attend all our private signing sessions, we had to adapt to the difficult circumstances around us. We had a signed and agreed contract so we were able to send the shirts, photos, boots and balls directly to Diego via shipping agents – all in all they took about a month to arrive. 

Diego with Icons’ Chairman Edward Freedman in May 2010

Finally, on August 5th 2020 we had what we were all waiting for: confirmation. It came in the form of a gallery of photos and videos of Diego putting pen to product. He even signed Icons.com and A1 Sporting Memorabilia boards, which we now hang proudly in our office. 

True to form, Diego signed our products while smoking a big fat cigar and listening to boisterous Latin music. He even managed to send back a shirt with a hole in it that had been singed by that very cigar. “Well, you can’t argue that’s not authentic!” our warehouse team said.

The first shipment made it all back in one piece and we were able to fulfil all the pre-orders we had sold both on our site and to our wholesale customers around the world.

The second shipment was sent out to Argentina in September and they remained mostly unsigned until after Diego’s brain surgery. To his eternal credit, he spent part of his rehabilitation in the days that followed signing the remainder of our products. What a legend. 

He even managed to send back a shirt with a hole in it that had been singed by that very cigar.

We were working on shipping them back, approaching the end of another successful signing, when we heard the awful news of his tragic and untimely death.

In the difficult moments that followed for our staff who, along with so many around the world, were only just processing the very sad news, we knew we had to make a number of quick and ultimately respectful decisions.

We took down all pre-order products but kept the other items we had live on the site. We decided not to change the prices, not to remove unframed items and not to block any of the discounts codes we’d issued to our loyal customers to what was then the run-up to Black Friday. As such we sold out of every Diego signed item we still had within 29 minutes of the news breaking.

As you can imagine it has been a slow, difficult and expensive operation to secure, package and return all the signed items in our second shipment. Dr Matias Morla, one of Diego’s lawyers, has been very helpful throughout and it’s testament to the long-term relationship we have with Diego and his team that we were able to work closely with them even in those dreadful weeks after his passing.

The items finally left Argentina in the week before Christmas and we were eagerly awaiting their arrival when we got the news from our shipping agent that all the boxes had been lost at Heathrow Airport. 

After a sharp intake of breath we sent a polite request to please, please, please go back and check again. This was precious cargo of the highest order. The boxes were found then the van sending them to our warehouse broke down. It was Christmas Eve and quite frankly, we were feeling very done with 2020 on the whole.

The reason I wanted to illustrate all this is to try to explain the lengths we go to in bringing our loyal audience the world’s best signed products. Sometimes the job we do is easy and glamorous and takes a week or two from start to finish. Sometimes it takes twenty-one years.

Today, on Monday the 1st of February 2021 we will be proud and excited – and yes, mournful too – to launch our ultimate range of authentic and official Diego Maradona signed products. 

We have ensured all our pre-order customers have their orders fulfilled, and we are putting the framed items we took down on the day of his death back up at the original prices. We are also introducing a whole new range of Maradona products, with our signed Puma King boots, signed retro FC Barcelona shirts, signed photos and classic signed 1986 Argentina shirts. We’ve also been working with our partners at Getty Images, Llewellyn Illustrations, Toffs and Opus to add yet more items to that core range.

Icons is the only place to buy genuine products hand-signed by Diego. As our agent Sport & Life commented: “We must be proud that it was the last contract he signed, and that he worked on it to the end.” 

We will miss working with our friend Diego. Through it all and to the end he was iconic in every way.

Shop from our full range of 100% authentic Diego Maradona signed items by visiting Icons.com today…

Follow Icons on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all our latest blog posts, special offers and competitions.


Diego Maradona: A Tribute To An Icon

November 26, 2020
From Our CEO

On Wednesday evening, the world of sport lost an icon of near-unparalleled stature. The death of Diego Armando Maradona, at just 60-years-old, has shocked and deeply saddened all of us here at Icons.com.

The tragic news brought into sharp focus the profound reverence millions of people had for Diego – not just in Buenos Aires and Naples, but all over the world.

The cascade of heartfelt tributes from family, friends, teammates – even rivals – reminded us that few players were as passionately hallowed as an earthbound deity like Diego.

Diego with Icons’ Non-Executive Chairman Edward Freedman in May 2010

Last night we watched as many on social media shared their favourite Diego memories. We saw those spectacular scenes of his arrival and unprecedented success at Napoli; the wild and almost animalistic celebrations he became known for; the iconic lift of the FIFA World Cup trophy at the Azteca in 1986; and, of course, those goals against England (yes, both of them).

This week has reminded us that icons like Diego are very reason we love to do what we do. When we arranged to get a new collection of memorabilia signed by Diego over the past couple of months, we knew those items would be a huge hit. They have been every time we’ve stocked them over the course of our near-two decade relationship with him. And so they were again.

Icons CEO Dan Jamieson at Diego’s house in Dubai

Many of us have heroes that we pay homage to in our own way. Whether it’s a signed shirt hanging from a wall or a simple ticket stub hidden away in a drawer, we keep memorabilia to stay close to the people whose talents make us love the sports we watch. Bringing Diego closer to his legions of fans has been a great joy of ours for many years.

We may never see the likes of Diego Maradona again and for that the world of sport has been dealt a severe blow.

May he rest in peace.

For information on Diego Maradona signed memorabilia, including pre-orders not yet fulfilled, please contact our Customer Support team via customersupport@icons.com or by calling +44 (0)20 3904 7600 between 9am and 5.30pm GMT Monday to Friday.