Club América X Nike 25 Year Partnership Ends: From Just Do it, To Done

When you think of football’s most iconic brand-club partnerships, a few instantly come to mind: Real Madrid and adidas, Barcelona and Nike, Puma and the Austrian national team. But for fans across the Americas, there has been another constant: Nike and Club América. After 25 years, one of the longest and most successful collaborations in world football comes to a close. Starting in 2000, the Swoosh became synonymous with Las Águilas, not just on the field, but in culture, fashion, and legacy.

Together, they lifted eight Liga MX titles, three Campeón de Campeones trophies, three Concacaf Champions Cups, one Copa MX, a SuperCopa MX, a Campeones Cup, and the Concacaf Giants Cup. From the iconic kits worn by legends to the dramatic title wins, Nike helped define Club América’s modern identity. And now, as the club enters a new chapter with adidas, it feels like the cycle has completed. América didn’t just “do it” with Nike. They dominated.

2000–2009: Establishing a Legacy

The partnership began at the dawn of the new millennium, and it didn’t take long for results to follow. In 2001, América lifted the Concacaf Giants Cup. One year later, they captured the league title in dramatic fashion, defeating Necaxa in overtime at the Estadio Azteca. But those triumphs were merely the beginning.

The mid-2000s ushered in a golden era. Led by club legend Cuauhtémoc Blanco, the Super Águilas became the face of Mexican football. Between 2005 and 2006, the club claimed another league title, a Campeón de Campeones, and a Concacaf Champions Cup. At the same time, Nike elevated its kit designs, thanks in part to a rising star between the posts—Guillermo Ochoa. The young goalkeeper not only became a Nike ambassador but helped inspire some of the brand’s most creative designs, including the legendary Caballero Águila goalkeeper kit, a fan favorite to this day.

Yet, by the end of the decade, the shine had dulled. The club entered a rough patch, plagued by inconsistent performances and internal turmoil. From 2008 to 2009, América endured one of its darkest periods, prompting a much-needed institutional rebuild.

2010–2019: Redemption and Reinvention

The start of the 2010s brought more questions than answers. But through the storm, Nike remained loyal delivering fresh, bold designs even when results on the pitch wavered. It wasn’t long, however, before the tide turned.

In 2013, under Miguel “Piojo” Herrera, América produced arguably the most legendary final in club history. With seconds left on the clock, goalkeeper Moíses Muñoz scored a dramatic header to send the title match against Cruz Azul into extra time. América would go on to win the penalty shootout and lift their 11th league trophy.

From that turning point, the club reestablished its dominance. Nike stood at the heart of it all. The 2010s delivered three league titles, two back-to-back Concacaf Champions Cups, a Copa MX, and another Campeón de Campeones. América were back on top and they looked good doing it.

The decade also brought a defining moment in the visual history of the club: the Centenario kit. Designed by Nike to commemorate Club América’s 100th anniversary in 2016, the kit stood out for its bold, unconventional look. While not universally loved, many fans found the design unflattering, it was unmistakably unique. It solidified Nike’s legacy as the brand that marked one of the most important milestones in América’s history, for better or worse.

2020–2025: Making History

The final stretch of Nike’s reign coincided with a time of global uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic brought logistical hurdles, including supply chain issues that saw the team wear fan-version kits in high-profile matches against Chelsea and Manchester City. But once the world regained its footing, Club América exploded into an era of dominance unlike anything seen before. Led by a new generation of stars, América secured a historic tricampeonato—three consecutive league titles that etched their name even deeper into the record books. They added a total of six trophies, including a Campeón de Campeones, a SuperCopa MX, and for the first time in club history, a Campeones Cup.

Throughout this period, Nike treated América not as just another team in its portfolio, but as a marquee club. While others received generic templates, Las Águilas consistently boasted unique kits with bespoke designs.

Conclusion: A Farewell to the Swoosh

The end of Club América’s 25-year partnership with Nike is more than just a logo change, it’s the closing chapter of a transformative era. An era that saw América ascend to the pinnacle of Mexican football time and time again. An era of innovation, passion, and unforgettable memories etched in gold and stitched in swooshes.

As the club prepares to turn the page with adidas, the Nike years will remain iconic. From heartbreaks to glories, this partnership wasn’t just about kits. It was about identity. And for a quarter-century, Club América’s identity was draped in Nike.

Now, it’s time for something new. But history will always remember what they did together. From Just Do It to job done.

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