Former Arsenal Invincible Jens Lehmann pulled a quick one on the North London membership. Or did he?
The legendary Gunner formally secured the ‘Invincibles’ trademark for £30,000. The German goalkeeper formally submitted the paperwork in late 2020, earlier than the Invincibles’ twentieth anniversary this season. Credit score to Jens for considering forward and investing the funds and time to nail down the rights—even billionaire Mathieu Flamini have to be taking notes.
“I had the thought as a result of the identify Invincibles turns into increasingly more fashionable approaching the twentieth anniversary,” he advised Mail Sport. ‘And no one had it so I used to be wanting into it. I used to be able to get the branding rights for our group, so all people who’s utilizing it’s violating our model.
“Typically you could have guys from throughout Europe or Africa or Asia who have been utilizing that. They might have accomplished that with out permission and named themselves the “Invincibles no matter”. And so they cannot do it anymore.
“They (the membership) have been in all probability a bit stunned as a result of no one thought of having the model identify registered. No less than they know it is now being managed.”
Nobody at Arsenal even pursued the ‘Invincibles’ trademarking registration concept; thus, they continue to be shocked into silence. No less than the deal stays throughout the Gunner household — think about if somebody at Spurs had accomplished the paperwork.
Lehmann guarantees to do proper by it, although. He is establishing an organization with all Invincible gamers and the coach—sure, the one and solely Arsene Wenger—as shareholders. That 2003/04 group contains the membership’s present sporting director, Edu.
“We’ve got 28 gamers and 12 employees members, which incorporates the boss [Wenger]. The corporate has not been arrange but as a result of we’re getting ready.
“There shall be one or two occasions right here very quickly, the place we give one thing again to the individuals. Everyone shall be a shareholder of the corporate,” explains 54-year-old Lehmann.
An Invincibles documentary, merchandise (which, sarcastically, the membership at the moment exploits on the retailer), and a tour are simply the beginning of attainable trademark use instances. The savvy German may additionally pursue Invincibles cryptocurrency or NFTs. In line with Lehmann, all income will go to charity.
Arsenal are on the hunt to safe their first Premier League title in 20 years over the following fortnight. Manchester Metropolis are a degree behind with a recreation in hand.
Here is an inventory of key gamers from that 2003-04 Arsenal group, famously often called the “Invincibles.” The squad went unbeaten all through all the English Premier League season.
Thierry Henry
Patrick Vieira
Dennis Bergkamp
Robert Pires
Sol Campbell
Ashley Cole
Freddie Ljungberg
Jens Lehmann
Gilberto Silva
Kolo Touré
José Antonio Reyes
Lauren
Edu
Ray Parlour
Martin Keown
Sylvain Wiltord
Pascal Cygan
Nwankwo Kanu
Gael Clichy
Jermaine Pennant
Picture: x/tosanation + ig/jenslehmannofficial
