The SELECT Brand

SELECT is considered one of the world’s leading manufacturers of footballs and handballs, with a long and eventful history. Today, the innovative Danish company sells more than 3 million balls per year and is the official ball supplier for several major leagues. The company also exports balls, apparel, and accessories to more than 50 countries.

What Makes the SELECT Brand Special

SELECT sells over 3 million balls each year and also produces a wide range of sportswear and accessories, which are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide. SELECT is also the official ball supplier for many of Europe’s top football leagues, including the German Bundesliga, making SELECT the largest league partner. SELECT footballs, handballs, and futsal balls are still made using 32 panels, ensuring optimal roundness. A ball with perfect roundness is the foundation for reliable aerodynamics, resulting in a straight flight and controlled bounce.

Origins and History

SELECT was founded in 1947 by Eigil Nielsen, goalkeeper for the Danish national football team. He was the team’s first-choice goalkeeper and played 28 international matches between 1940 and 1951. He was also the goalkeeper for the Danish team that won the bronze medal at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

At the time, elite footballers couldn’t make a living solely from the sport, so Eigil Nielsen studied sports psychology and worked in the shoe and leather industry. During this period, he developed the first SELECT football. In 1951, he signed a contract with the Danish Football Association (DBU) to supply balls for national team matches. This marked the beginning of a long-standing partnership between SELECT and the DBU, which continues to this day. SELECT still supplies footballs to all Danish national teams. That same year, SELECT launched a new football with a built-in valve and no external lacing. This allowed the ball to maintain its round shape better and eliminated the laces that could interfere with shots and especially headers. These improvements were groundbreaking. At the time, all footballs were made from eight pieces of cowhide. Later, standard balls were developed with 18 elongated panels. In 1962, SELECT introduced one of the greatest inventions in football history – the 32-panel ball.

In the early 1970s, Eigil Nielsen once again led the way in ball manufacturing when SELECT introduced the 32-panel handball. In 1974, SELECT stopped using cowhide and produced the first hand-stitched ball made from synthetic leather. Synthetic leather quickly became the preferred choice among players, and today, nearly all balls – regardless of manufacturer – are made from synthetic leather.