SELECT Sport A/S

Sports Balls and Equipment Manufacturingselect-sport.com

SELECT Sport A/S is a Danish manufacturer founded in 1947 that designs and sells hand-sewn and ultrasonically welded footballs, handballs, and futsal balls, plus apparel and teamgear, serving professional leagues, clubs, and consumers across 50+ countries.

Company typePrivate
Founded1947
HeadquartersGlostrup, Denmark
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2B
OfferingHardware or Manufacturing

What SELECT Sport A/S does

SELECT Sport A/S is a Danish sports equipment manufacturer headquartered in Glostrup, founded in 1947 by former national team goalkeeper Eigil Nielsen. The company designs and produces hand-sewn and ultrasonically welded balls — primarily footballs, handballs, and futsal balls — built around its proprietary 32-panel construction (20 hexagons + 12 pentagons) introduced in 1962. Its portfolio spans the premium Brillant Super football series (including the ultrasonic-welded UZ and the FIFA-approved Brilliant Super iBall with integrated tracking sensor), the SELECT Ultimate handball (official EHF Champions League match ball), the thermally-bonded Futsal Super, the sustainable Futsal Planet (recycled plastic bottles), and adjacent categories including clothing, teamgear, goalkeeper gloves, ProfCare supports, and the My Training equipment line. The company sells over 3 million balls annually and exports to more than 50 countries.

The business operates through a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct B2B supply to professional leagues and clubs (DBU since 1951, EHF Champions League and European Championships since the 1970s, 3F Superliga, Allsvenskan, Superettan, Eliteserien, OBOS Ligaen, PSG Handball), a B2B portal for club bulk orders, regional DTC e-commerce sites across Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the US, Germany, and an International storefront, and a local dealer network for mid-market and consumer reach. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is anchored on premium professional, FIFA-certified products and tiered across club, youth, and recreational segments. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors.

SELECT's primary technology differentiators are the 32-panel ball architecture, ultrasonic welding (2021), thermo bonding for futsal, the built-in valve design (1951), and the iBall tracking-sensor platform co-developed with German firm KINEXON — the first FIFA-approved intelligent football for use at the highest level of competition (2022). Sustainability positioning has emerged via the Futsal Planet line. Distribution and brand reach rest on multi-decade league partnerships that supply recurring visibility, while innovation cadence (three major product launches since 2018) signals ongoing R&D investment despite the absence of disclosed R&D spending, headcount growth, or revenue figures.

SELECT Sport A/S firmographics

Firmographics

Name: SELECT Sport A/S
Legal name: SELECT SPORT A/S
Website: https://select-sport.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1947
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: SELECT Sport A/S is a Danish manufacturer founded in 1947 that designs and sells hand-sewn and ultrasonically welded footballs, handballs, and futsal balls, plus apparel and teamgear, serving professional leagues, clubs, and consumers across 50+ countries.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

SELECT Sport A/S industry classification

Industry

Product category: Sports Balls and Equipment Manufacturing
NAICS: Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)
SIC: Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
akta.pro primary industry: Team Sports Equipment & Uniforms Retail (CRAMABAE)
akta.pro secondary industries: Soccer Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAC), Team Sports & On-Field Performance Apparel (CRAAAEAE)

Keywords

Hand-sewn footballs
Sports ball manufacturing
Team sports equipment
Intelligent ball tracking
Sports apparel

Where SELECT Sport A/S is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Glostrup
HQ country: Denmark
HQ region: Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

SELECT Sport A/S business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Hardware or Manufacturing
Cost components: Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Ball Sales: Sale of footballs, handballs, futsal balls, and other sports balls to professional leagues, clubs, and consumers. Major revenue driver with over 3 million balls sold annually
Sports Apparel and Accessories: Sale of clothing (match/training wear, leisure wear, goalkeeper wear, referee wear), teamgear, and accessories including bags, socks, shin guards, and ball equipment
Professional/Club Equipment Packages: Comprehensive equipment solutions for clubs through 'Everything for Your Club' program

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

SELECT Sport A/S product offering

Product offering

Core offering

SELECT Sport A/S manufactures and sells hand-sewn sports balls (footballs, handballs, futsal balls, and balls for other sports) along with related sports apparel, teamgear, training equipment, goalkeeper gloves, and sports care products. The company supplies professional leagues, clubs, and consumers across more than 50 countries, with proprietary technologies including the 32-panel ball construction, ultrasonic welding, and the FIFA-approved Brilliant Super iBall with integrated tracking sensor.

Product overview

SELECT Sport A/S is a Danish sports equipment manufacturer founded in 1947 by former national team goalkeeper Eigil Nielsen. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio of balls (footballs, handballs, futsal balls, basketballs, volleyballs) and sports apparel. Core products include the Brillant Super football series (including the ultrasonic-welded UZ version), the iBall intelligent ball technology with FIFA-approved tracking sensors, SELECT Ultimate handballs (official EHF Champions League ball), and Futsal Super balls. The product line extends to clothing collections (Match & Training wear under Pisa/Spain/Monaco brands, Leisure wear under Oxford brand), teamgear equipment, ProfCare sports supports, My Training equipment, and goalkeeper gloves. The company sells over 3 million balls annually and exports to more than 50 countries. Notable innovations include the 32-panel ball design (1962), the world's first intelligent football iBall (2012), intelligent handball (2018), and the first FIFA-approved chip-enabled football (2022).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Brillant Super: Professional football series including Brillant Super UZ and Brillant Super iBall with tracking sensor technology
SELECT ULTIMATE
SELECT LAB
iBall
My Training

Products and services

Footballs Wide range of footballs covering professional (Brillant Super UZ, Brillant Super TB), club (Match, Team, Club), indoor, leisure, kids, and special-purpose balls in sizes 3-5 with FIFA Quality Pro, FIFA Quality, and FIFA Basic certifications.
Handballs Handballs for all levels including professional (Ultimate, Target, Solera), club (Mundo, Torneo, Circuit), and youth/soft series. The Ultimate is the official EHF Champions League match ball.
Futsal balls Comprehensive futsal ball range including professional (Futsal Super thermally bonded with 3D diamond surface), club (Futsal Master, Futsal Planet made from recycled plastic bottles), and kids models.
Other balls Balls for basketball, beach volleyball, volleyball, kids volleyball, American football, plus specialty balls like foam balls, high bounce balls, and Boomerang Balls.
iBall intelligent balls World's first intelligent football (2012) and handball (2018) with built-in chip tracker providing real-time data for match and training analysis, fan engagement, and officiating. The Brilliant Super iBall (2022) is the first FIFA-approved chip-enabled football.
Sports clothing Match and training wear (Pisa, Spain, Monaco collections), leisure wear (Oxford, hoodies, T-shirts, sweatpants), goalkeeper wear, referee wear, baselayer, accessories, and socks for men, women, and children.
Teamgear Equipment including shin guards, sports bags, resin products, ball equipment (pumps, needles), training equipment (hurdles, ladders, cones), referee equipment, training packages, bibs, captains bands, and water bottles.
ProfCare sports supports Sports supports (ankle, knee, compression) and sports care products (tape, bandages, compression wrap) for injury prevention and recovery.
My Training equipment Training equipment collection including resistance bands (Trainingband 1-5, Recoveryband), gym balls (2-10kg), foam rollers, training mats, sling trainers, balance boards, and acceleration trainers.
Goalkeeper gloves Goalkeeper gloves for all ages and levels including 88 Pro Grip (professional), 88 Kids, and 33 Allround (match and training) with various grip technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

Over 3 million balls sold annually
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use SELECT Sport A/S

Customer profile

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

SELECT Sport A/S technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

SELECT Sport A/S partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

KINEXONcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022German technology company KINEXON collaborated with SELECT to develop the Brilliant Super iBall - the first football with a tracking sensor approved by FIFA for use at the highest level. The chip provides real-time data for match and training analysis.
European Handball Federation (EHF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1970SELECT ULTIMATE is the official match ball for EHF Champions League (world's biggest club tournament) and all EHF club tournaments and European Championship finals.
Danish Football Association (DBU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1951SELECT has supplied balls to all Danish national football teams since 1951 - the world's longest football partnership turning 70+ years. The agreement began when SELECT launched its new football with built-in valve and no external string.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

SELECT Sport A/S competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Mitre: British football heritage brand (1817) producing match and training footballs with a long history of league and federation partnerships. Direct peer in mass-market and professional football ball categories, often competing for club and federation contracts in Europe.
Hummel: Danish sports brand founded in 1923, also headquartered in Denmark, with a comparable heritage portfolio in football and team sports equipment, including balls, apparel, and footwear. Direct competitor in SELECT's home market with overlapping league and federation targeting across Scandinavia.
Uhlsport: German sporting goods manufacturer specializing in footballs, goalkeeper gloves, and handball equipment, directly overlapping with SELECT's core football and handball ball categories. Comparable mid-sized European player competing in the same club-league procurement channels.
Kempa: German handball specialist brand (part of the Uhlsport group) producing handball balls, shoes, and apparel, directly competing with SELECT in the EHF and national league handball ball supply market. Mid-sized European specialist comparable in scale and product mix.
Mikasa: Japanese ball manufacturer producing volleyball, handball, basketball, and football balls for federation-level play globally. Comparable position as a specialized ball expert with FIVB and IHF-grade equipment, serving a similar elite ball customer base.
Molten: Japanese ball maker with a federation-tier position in basketball, volleyball, and handball, including FIVB-, FIBA-, and IHF-approved match balls. Direct peer in the technical ball segment with comparable premium, certification-driven positioning.

Broad incumbents

Puma: German global sports brand with significant football ball heritage and federation sponsorships, particularly in Italy and other European markets. Competes with SELECT in both professional match ball supply and broader sporting goods distribution.
Decathlon (Kipsta): World's largest sporting goods retailer producing its own Kipsta football brand at accessible price points, plus other team-sport balls. Overlaps with SELECT in mass-market football and futsal ball categories through a global store footprint.
Adidas: Global incumbent dominating football balls at FIFA World Cup and major European leagues (Champions League, Euro). Overlaps directly with SELECT in match ball supply but operates at vastly larger scale and broader product portfolio including footwear and apparel.
Nike: Global incumbent producing official match balls for the Premier League and other major properties. Overlaps with SELECT in football ball categories but competes with much larger marketing budgets and broader apparel/footwear ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

SELECT Sport A/S compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance3 records

SELECT Sport A/S financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

SELECT Sport A/S leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

SELECT Sport A/S funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

SELECT Sport A/S M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SELECT Sport A/S

What does SELECT Sport A/S do?

Is SELECT Sport A/S a public or private company?

SELECT Sport A/S is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was SELECT Sport A/S founded?

SELECT Sport A/S was founded in 1947. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is SELECT Sport A/S based?

SELECT Sport A/S is headquartered in Glostrup, Denmark, in the Europe region.

How does SELECT Sport A/S make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Ball Sales are the primary driver. The others are sports Apparel and Accessories and professional/Club Equipment Packages.

Who are SELECT Sport A/S's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Mitre, Hummel, Uhlsport, Kempa, Mikasa and Molten. Broad incumbents are Puma, Decathlon (Kipsta), Adidas and Nike.

Does SELECT Sport A/S have an API?

No public API is recorded for SELECT Sport A/S.

What industry is SELECT Sport A/S in?

SELECT Sport A/S's product category is Sports Balls and Equipment Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMABAE, Team Sports Equipment & Uniforms Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMAEAC, Soccer Equipment Retail. Its NAICS code is 33992 and its SIC code is 3949.