After Tiger and Rory, five sports star advertising howlers

Nike caused a stir this week with an ad campaign featuring its newly signed brand ambassador Rory Mcllroy sparring with Ryder Cup rival Tiger Woods.

Rory McIlroy: no cup is safe by Wieden & Kennedy Portland
Rory McIlroy: no cup is safe by Wieden & Kennedy Portland

The 30-and 60-second clips show the golfing stars engaged in a game of one-upmanship at the driving range.

The ad, by Wieden & Kennedy Portland, has split opinion, with some believing it has helped to rehabilitate the Woods brand. However, critics believe the ad does not paint the two golfing stars in the best light.

Dominic Curran, deputy managing director of Synergy, believes for ads with sport stars to work, like all successful ad campaigns, they need to have "authenticity and relevance". They must also need to "capture the rights mood at the right time".

After sounding out opinion from the UK's top sports marketing agencies, Marketing charts five of the worst ads starring heroes from the sporting world.

Tom Daley - Nestle

Figo - Just For Men

Ronaldo - Suzuki

Pele (voiced by Peter Serafinowicz) - Viagra

Stuart Pearce, Chris Waddle - Pizza Hut

Market Reports

Get unprecedented new-business intelligence with access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s new Advertising Intelligence Market Reports.

Find out more

Enjoying ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s content?

 Get unlimited access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s premium content for your whole company with a corporate licence.

Upgrade access

Looking for a new job?

Get the latest creative jobs in advertising, media, marketing and digital delivered directly to your inbox each day.

Create an alert now

Partner content