Tag: Football

We Predict… The 2015-16 Season

August 7, 2015
Previews and Predictions

 

It feels like an age since Chelsea lifted that Premier League trophy, bringing the 14-15 Premier League season to a close. It’s been a busy summer for almost every club but here we are, at that exciting stage again; the beginning of a new season! Who will emerge as champions? Which signings will prosper? Which will flop? Here is how everybody at Icons thinks the season will pan out at home and abroad…

Icons-memorabilia-3

Edward Freedman, Chairman

Premier League top four: Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Manchester United

La Liga: Barcelona

Champions League: Barcelona

F.A Cup: Southampton

League Cup:  Arsenal

Relegation: Aston Villa, Norwich, Watford.

Surprise Package: Sterling and Harry Kane have poor seasons. At least 2 Premier League managers go before Christmas.

Dan Jamieson CEO and Managing Director

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool

Premier League top scorer: Sergio Aguero

La Liga winners: Barcelona

Champions League winners: Bayern Munich – Pep finally gets it right

FA Cup: Liverpool

League Cup: Man City

Premier League bottom 3: West Ham, Sunderland, Leicester

Positive surprise packages: Everyone is saying Bournemouth so that’s boring, how about Sterling to live up to the price tag? Crystal Palace to push for Europe

Negative surprise packages: Louis Van Gaal to be gone by this time next year having spent a third of a billion pounds on everything apart from what they need

Random predictions: The UEFA Champions League is more enjoyable on BT Sport than ITV and no one misses Andy Townsend

 

Ben Soley, Sales and Marketing Manager

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, City, Manchester United, Liverpool

Premier League top scorer: Sergio Aguero, if he can stay fit

La Liga winners: Barcelona

Champions League winners: Barcelona

FA Cup: Man United

League Cup: Man City

Premier League bottom 3: Watford, Bournemouth, Leicester

Positive surprise packages: Sterling to start 30 games and get double figure goals. Rooney to break England goal scoring record against Switzerland.

Negative surprise packages: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United). Depay to have great opening 10 games and then go off the boil.

Random predictions: three managers sacked by Christmas day, Mitrovic to be sent off at least twice for Newcastle, Balotelli to leave Liverpool – celebrations go wrong and fire engines called to Anfield after fireworks mishap.

Margaret Plunkett, Head of Customer Service

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United

Premier League top scorer: Hazard

La Liga winners: Barcelona

Champions League winners: Real Madrid

FA Cup: Arsenal

League Cup: Stoke

Premier League bottom 3: Norwich, Leicester, Watford

Positive surprise packages: Jurgen Klopp to manage in Premiership in 2015/16 season

Negative surprise packages: Sam Allardyce to return as Premiership manager

Random predictions: Arsenal to beat Chelsea in a Premiership game to prove Community shield win was not luck or a fluke.

 

Jack O’Neill,  Editorial Intern

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United

Premier League top scorer: Diego Costa

La Liga winners: FC Barcelona

Champions League winners: FC Barcelona

FA Cup: Manchester United

League Cup: Manchester United

Premier League bottom 3: Norwich, Leicester, Watford

Positive surprise packages: Bournemouth to survive by playing positive attacking football. Diego Costa to miss the first month of the season getting a hamstring transplant. Never gets injured again. Jack Wilshere to look on in envy from the Arsenal medical table.

Negative surprise packages: Southampton to become the new Everton and push the top 4 all the way. Everton to become the new Southampton and lose all their best players.

Random predictions: Alan Pardew to lose his cool once again and punch Jose Mourinho on the touchline. Hazard / Oscar / Willian to outscore the Three Amigos in the Champions League.

 

Alistair Hunter, Editorial Intern

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City

Premier League top scorer: Diego Costa

La Liga winners: FC Barcelona

Champions League winners: FC Barcelona

FA Cup: Manchester United

League Cup: Aston Villa

Premier League bottom 3: Sunderland, Watford, Leicester

Positive surprise packages: Bournemouth to escape relegation on the final day of the season; Newcastle and Aston Villa will be reinvigorated – the latter especially so.

Negative surprise packages: Claudio Ranieri will be sacked before Christmas, sending Leicester into a tailspin they fail to recover from. Roberto Firmino will score fewer than five goals for Liverpool, putting more pressure on Brendan Rodgers.

Random predictions: A goalkeeper will score at some point this season. Alan Pardew will have a quiet and controversy-free season.

 

Harm Jan Deuring, Social Content Co-ordinator

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City

Premier League top scorer: Hazard

La Liga winners: FC Barcelona

Champions League: Bayern Munich

FA Cup: Arsenal

League Cup: Manchester City

Premier League bottom 3: Watford, Norwich City, Leicester City

Positive surprise packages: Stoke City playing Brazilian samba football. Spurs impress with youngest team ever, but will end fifth again.

Negative surprise packages: Liverpool, Southampton

Random predictions: Louis van Gaal will get his own dictionary, Depay will do better than Di Maria.

 

Scott Hutchison, US Partner

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United

Premier League top scorer: Harry Kane

La Liga winners: Barcelona

Champions League winners: Chelsea

FA Cup: Chelsea

League Cup: Everton

Premier League bottom 3: Norwich, Sunderland, Leicester

Positive surprise packages: Bournemouth stay up, and Matt Richie is the reason why.

Negative surprise packages: Every single signing (aside from Milner) Brendan Rodgers made this summer for Liverpool.

Random predictions: Brendan Rodgers is on the hot seat by week 8.

 

 

 


He’s Back! Gareth Bale Signs For Icons.com Again

June 16, 2015
Signing Sessions

Icons met Gareth Bale for the fourth time for an exclusive signing session. This time in lovely Cardiff whilst he was on international duty with Wales.

Gareth-Bale-Signing-session (2)

Icons were given a hospitable welcome by the Welsh FA before meeting with an equally friendly Gareth. Bale signed a collection of Real Madrid, Spurs and Wales shirts for Icons, as well as his latest Adidas boot. Just a few days after our signing session, he scored the winning goal for Wales against Belgium and brought his country a step closer to qualifying for EURO 2016.

Icons have been signing with Gareth since 2011, as part of our “Stars of the Future” programme. Now Gareth is the world’s most expensive player having signed to Madrid for a cool Euros 100 million, but he’s still the same, down to earth man he was we when we first met him.

Do not forget to watch our special Gareth Bale signing video:


Cristiano Ronald & Icons Celebrate A Decade Together

February 25, 2015
Signing Sessions

We saw Cristiano Ronaldo for another private signing session on February 12th in Madrid, marking Cristiano’s tenth(!) year working with Icons.

Cristanio-Ronaldo-Signing-Session

In that time Cristiano has done it all – winning three Ballon d’Ors, two UEFA Champions League titles, two FIFA World Club Championships four League titles in two countries and broken countless goal scoring records at European and international level along the way. Yet Cristiano remains just as sincere and humble as when we first met him at the age of 20 in Manchester, in 2005.

Great pleasure

Cristiano has always been a pleasure to work with, offering the highest level of professionalism. Cristiano even turns up for the signing early, thankfully the Icons signing team are as ready as he is. Cristiano is friendly with everyone, and jokes with those in the room in English, Spanish and Portuguese, a testament that this is a man who is more than just a footballer.

New range of signed Cristiano Ronaldo memorabilia

In this special signing, celebrating his ten years with Icons, Cristiano signed Real Madrid home shirts, a new retro style Portugal shirt as well as a very limited number of Manchester United Shirts. Cristiano also signed two boot styles for us, including his new black Nike Victory V boots, which look absolutely stunning in silver permanent marker.

Finally, Cristiano signed a range of Madrid photos showing him celebrating his recent third Ballon d’Or win, scoring in El Clasico against Barcelona and breaking the record for most goals in one Champions League season on the way to Real Madrid’s famous La Decima title.

And do not forget to watch our special Cristiano signing video:


Neymar Jr Signs Icons Once Again!

February 10, 2015
Signing Sessions

Having been the first to sign with Neymar Jr. in 2012, we are pleased to announce our latest signing with the Brazil and Barcelona star. Regarded as one of the most exciting talents to hit the international stage in years, Neymar Jr. has the world at his feet.

Here you find the full, exclusive range of Neymar Jr. signed products. And do not forget to watch our video below we shot during the signing session!


Gareth Bale Signs For Icons.com Again!

November 17, 2014
Signing Sessions

Icons met Gareth Bale for the third time in three years this week in Cardiff whilst he was on international duty with Wales.

Gareth-Bale-Signing-Session

Icons were given a hospitable welcome by the Welsh FA before meeting with an equally friendly Gareth. Bale signed a collection of Real Madrid, Spurs and Wales shirts for Icons, as well as his latest Adidas boot. Being the first signing Gareth has done since helping Madrid to their La Decima, Icons have a collection of special itemscelebrating his UEFA Champions league final winning goal against Atletico Madrid.

Icons have been signing with Gareth since 2011, as part of our “Stars of the Future” programme. Now Gareth is the world’s most expensive player having signed to Madrid for a cool Euros 100 million, but he’s still the same, down to earth man he was we when we first met him.


Icons.com: Official Messi Signed Merchandise Partner

October 6, 2014
Announcements

Icons first met Leo Messi on May 5th, 2006. Although Messi had made less than 30 appearances for club and country, Icons were convinced of his potential and made the signing happen.

Leo-Messi-Signing-Sessions-For-Icons

Today, eight years later, Messi is the biggest name in world football and has a glittering trophy cabinet to prove it. To date Messi has won six La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions League titles, two FIFA Club World Cup titles and four consecutive Ballon D’Or awards to name just a few.

Despite all this, Messi claims “off the pitch I am just normal”. And he’s right. Humble, unassuming and polite, he is a pleasure to work with. On the pitch, however, he is unlike any footballer the world has ever seen.

Official Messi Signed Merchandise

On Friday 26th September, 2014 Icons saw Leo Messi yet again to sign a range of shirts, boots and photos for us and his fans. Icons have also been working around the clock to launch the new Official Messi Signed Merchandise range.

All Official Messi Signed Merchandise is created under license by Icons Shop Ltd and now comes with an Official Messi Signed Merchandise Certificate of Authenticity, which has an image of Leo signing the product line.

The full range is only available on Icons.com.


Icons Announce New Chinese Partnership With 5usport Media Co. Ltd

August 20, 2014
Announcements

Icons are delighted to announce a new long term, exclusive distribution partnership with 5usport Media Co., Ltd (U体育) in China.

Check out the new Icons section on the 5usport Shop on Tmall

Their website Usport News will be listing Icons signed products from the summer of 2014 onwards and they will be responsible for exclusively working with all our customers in greater China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Icons-Memorabilia-Chinease-Partnership

Usportnews.com will be the best place for all our Chinese customers to get their official signed Messi, Ronaldo, Maradona and Premier League superstar’s signed products, as well as officially licensed memorabilia ranges from the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

If you have any questions about this partnership please contact us on customersupport@icons.com


We Predict… The 2014-15 Season

August 14, 2014
Previews and Predictions

It’s that time again. Who is going to win the Premier League? Who is going to score for fun? Will there be surprises and disappointments? Here are the Icons team’s expectations for the new season.

Icons-Predictions

Edward Freedman, Chairman

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United

Premier League top scorer: Diego Costa

La Liga winners: FC Barcelona

Champions League winners: Bayern Munich

FA Cup: Liverpool

League Cup: Arsenal

Premier League bottom 3: Aston Villa, Sunderland, West Ham United

Positive surprise packages: Everton will have an impressive season, but with the same result as last year.

Negative surprise packages: Tottenham will struggle mid-table.

Random predictions: A Premier League manager will depart within a month.

Dan Jamieson, Managing Director

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal

Premier League top scorer: Sergio Aguero

La Liga winners: Real Madrid

Champions League winners: Bayern Munich

FA Cup: Liverpool

League Cup: Everton

Premier League bottom 3: Burnley, Aston Villa, Leicester City

Positive surprise packages: Philippe Coutinho and Juan Mata will be their respective players of the year for their clubs. John Stones to be in the England team by the end of the year.

Negative surprise packages: 50% of the managers in the Premier League to not be in their jobs by the end of the season. Messi, Suarez and Neymar to score 100 goals between them in all competitions but not win any of them.

Random predictions: Raheem Sterling to the future of English football. James Rodriquez to be the future of football in general.

 

Ben Soley, Marketing and Sales Manager

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool

Premier League top scorer: Daniel Sturridge

La Liga winners: Real Madrid

Champions League winners: Bayern Munich

FA Cup: Manchester United

League Cup: Chelsea

Premier League bottom 3: Burnley, Swansea City, Hull City

Positive surprise packages: Bojan Krkić for Stoke. Southampton to be mid-table again.

Negative surprise packages: Sunderland to narrowly escape relegation again. Costa and Fabregas to be a success at Chelsea – this will upset me deeply.

Random predictions: Man Utd to be top after 8 games, the wheels to come off after Christmas. Arsenal’s team doctor to fail them yet again, losing the title in the last month. Coutinho to have most assists in the league.

Margaret Plunkett, Head of Customer Service

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United

Premier League top scorer: Diego Costa

La Liga winners: Real Madrid

Champions League winners: FC Barcelona

FA Cup: Everton

League Cup: Manchester City

Premier League bottom 3: Burnley, Aston Villa, Leicester City

Positive surprise packages: Wayne Rooney will flourish.

Negative surprise packages: Liverpool will have troubles scoring goals when Sturridge will miss half the season through injury.

Random predictions: –

 

Harm Jan Deuring, Social Content Co-ordinator

Premier League top 4: Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal

Premier League top scorer: Robin van Persie

La Liga winners: Real Madrid

Champions League winners: Real Madrid

FA Cup: Chelsea

League Cup: Liverpool

Premier League bottom 3: Burnley, West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City

Positive surprise packages: Louis van Gaal will construct a winning football machine that wins the title. Eric Lamela will prove that last season was an incident.

Negative surprise packages: Liverpool will discover that national + international football is hard to deal with.

Random predictions: Alexis Sanchez will have an amazing start at Arsenal, but will pick up an injury and struggle to come back. Liverpool will struggle to score goals.

Imran Sabur, Design Co-ordinator

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal

Premier League top scorer: Wayne Rooney

La Liga winners: Real Madrid

Champions League winners: Bayern Munich

FA Cup: Chelsea

League Cup: Southampton

Premier League bottom 3: Burnley, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa

Positive surprise packages: Rooney to dominate the league after been made captain by Van Gaal. Ander Herrera proves that Moyes was on to a winner when he tried to sign him last season. Lampard receives a standing ovation from Chelsea fans after scoring against his former club to put an early dent in their title credentials.

Negative surprise packages: Lampard receives a standing ovation from Chelsea fans after scoring against his former club to put an early dent in their title credentials – good & bad, because I’m a United fan. Sturridge to perform better without Suarez in the team.

Random predictions: Giggs contemplates coming out of retirement due to injuries early december.

Scott Hutchison, US Partner

Premier League top 4: Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal

Premier League top scorer: Diego Costa

La Liga winners: Real Madrid

Champions League winners: Real Madrid

FA Cup: Chelsea

League Cup: Everton

Premier League bottom 3: Burnley, Southampton, Leicester City

Positive surprise packages: –

Negative surprise packages: Van Gaal and Rooney relationship (bad for United, fun for the rest of us all).

Random predictions: Brendan Rogers on the hot seat by January.