History
our balls have been meeting highest standards FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. as one of the most tradition-steeped companies in the industry, WE look back ON a long history.
1947
THE FIRST SELECT BALL
In 1947 Eigil Nielsen, a trained sports psychologist active in the leather industry, develops his first football and founds the company SELECT.
1962
THE WORLD’S FIRST BALL WITH
32 PANELS
SELECT presents the world’s first football with 32 panels. The first handball with 32 panels follows in 1972.
1963
THE FIRST DERBYSTAR BALLS
The balls are produced, aside from saddles and gaiters, in a leather factory in the town of Goch in Germany’s Lower Rhine region. The name DERBYSTAR is derived from equestrian and football derbies in combination with a clear commitment to top quality.
1968
FOUNDING OF DERBYSTAR
Due to the great success of the balls, the ball section is outsourced. DERBYSTAR, a company newly founded by Eigil Nielsen and leather goods specialist Josef Moll-Thissen, specializes from the beginning in the production of hand-sewn sports balls.
1974
FIRST BALL MADE OF PU-MATERIAL
DERBYSTAR is one of the fi rst to use synthetic materials back in the mid-1970s. This invention is considered a revolution back then and has been adopted by all competitors in the meantime.
1979
DERBYSTAR IN Bundesliga
In the 1979/80 season, DERBYSTAR balls are used on all Bundesliga football fields for flanking, headers and shooting.
1995
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Since 1995, DERBYSTAR | SELECT has been providing third-world countries with thousands of balls through aid organizations and is involved in an elaborate health and training program (SAHEP) for production staff.
1996
FIFA Quality Program
Due to its great reputation in the global football industry, SELECT is asked by FIFA as one of several major football brands to help set universal quality standards for footballs.
2005
IHF-APPROVED
SELECT handballs get the highest quality seal which can be received in handball: IHF-APPROVED. The balls can be used at national championships and other official competitions which are directed by the IHF.
2006
OFFICIAL EREDIVISIE AND EERSTE
DIVISIE LEAGUE BALL
Since 2006, DERBYSTAR has been providing the official match balls of the first and second Dutch football league. Especially Eredivisie is considered one of Europe’s talent pools. Among others, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edgar Davids, Luis Suarez, Ronaldo and Christian Eriksen have scored their goals with a DERBYSTAR ball.
2012
THE WORLD’S FIRST INTELLIGENT
FOOTBALL
In 2012, DERBYSTAR presents the world’s first intelligent football, the DERBYSTAR iBall. Another milestone in the history of football. FIFA’s recognition of this technology shows that DERBYSTAR continues to be at the forefront of gaming device development.
2012
Partner of French Handball
The strong French men's handball league with players like Mikkel Hansen chooses the SELECT ULTIMATE as the official match ball.
2014
DERBYSTAR AND SELECT
Since 2014, both brands were distributed in Germany by DERBYSTAR.
2016
DUAL BONDED FOOTBALLS
In addition to hand-sewn and machine-sewn balls, DERBYSTAR presents for the first time footballs manufactured using the new dual-bonded process.
2016
SELECT BECOMES OFFICIAL BALL SUPPLIER OF THE EHF
From mid-2016 SELECT is the official ball supplier of the EHF (European Handball Federation). The top handball SELECT ULTIMATE becomes the official match ball of the most important European handball competitions: VELUX EHF Champions League, Women's Champions League and EHF European Championship.
2018
OFFICIAL BUNDESLIGA BALL
In April 2017, the DFL announces that DERBYSTAR balls will be used at all matches of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga division as of the 2018/19 season. The collaboration is scheduled for four seasons until 2021/22. As the official ball of one of the world’s best soccer leagues with the highest spectator numbers in Europe, DERBYSTAR thus reaches another milestone.