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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the growth of our football retail category and manage key supplier relationships.
- Company: Join Classic Football Shirts, a passionate team celebrating football culture.
- Benefits: Collaborative culture, hybrid work, and the chance to shape your category.
- Why this job: Make a major impact in the football retail industry with top brands.
- Qualifications: Experience in football retail and strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Be part of the world's largest collection of original football shirts.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Classic Football Shirts started in 2006 when university friends Matt Dale and Doug Bierton set out to track down rare football shirts. From those early days in a bedroom full of rails, the company has grown into a thriving business with a talented team, a busy warehouse, and stores in Manchester, London, and the US. Our passion for football and the stories behind every shirt drives everything we do. At Classic Football Shirts, we work together, stay grounded, and always put our fans at the heart of the business. We share the passion, win together, stay fan-focused, be agile, and stay grounded — values that guide how we operate every day.
We welcome all suitably qualified applicants and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. We have a great work ethic and a friendly group of diverse employees who enjoy working here to help carry out our mission.
The Role
Classic Football Shirts is looking for an experienced and highly driven Category Manager for New Product to lead the growth and performance of our modern football retail offering. This is a pivotal role within the business, responsible for shaping our product strategy, managing key supplier relationships, and ensuring we continue to bring the very best new football apparel and merchandise to our global customer base. We’re looking for someone with deep experience in football retail - ideally currently working in a buying or category management role within a leading sports or football retailer. You will bring valuable marketplace knowledge, commercial instinct, and supplier understanding that will strengthen and elevate our team. If you live and breathe football and can thrive in a fast-paced, data-led environment, this is an opportunity to make a major impact.
Location: Manchester (Hybrid – 1–2 days per week in the office)
Hours: The role is a full-time position
Key Responsibilities
- Help build, own and deliver the annual budget for a category within New Product, aligning financial targets with trading and growth plans.
- Forecast demand across all relevant product lines using sales data, trends, and brand insights to optimise stock efficiency and availability.
- Manage and develop relationships with major brand partners including adidas & PUMA and others - ensuring strong commercial terms, collaborative planning, and access to key product launches.
- Analyse category performance, using spreadsheets and business data tools to identify trading opportunities, range gaps, risks, and areas for margin improvement.
- Influence pricing, assortment and lifecycle strategy to maximise sales, profitability and customer experience.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with e-commerce, merchandising, marketing and operations to ensure successful product launches and ongoing category performance.
- Stay ahead of football culture, brand stories and market trends, ensuring our new product offering remains industry-leading and commercially strong.
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience as a Buyer, Assistant Buyer or Category Manager or similar within football retail (replica, training wear, footwear, equipment or related categories).
- Strong understanding of the football retail landscape, key brands, seasonal calendars and consumer trends.
- Experience managing budgets, forecasting and making data-driven trading decisions.
- Demonstrated success in building and managing supplier relationships with global brands.
Skills & Attributes
- Passionate about football — you understand the product, the culture and the customers.
- Highly analytical, comfortable working with large datasets and commercial reporting.
- Strong Excel and Google Sheets skills, with the ability to build, interpret and manipulate complex datasets, forecasts and trading models.
- Able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth and data-driven environment.
- Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
- Commercial mindset with an ability to balance product vision, margin and trading realities.
- Organised, proactive and comfortable owning a category end-to-end.
Working at Classic Football Shirts
Classic Football Shirts is home to the world’s largest collection of original football shirts, celebrating football culture and product in a way no one else does. You’ll be part of a passionate, ambitious team driving the next phase of growth as we expand our modern retail offering alongside our renowned vintage and classic collections. We offer a collaborative culture, the freedom to shape your category, and the opportunity to work with some of the biggest brands in world football.
Application
Application method: please email CV and Cover Letter to recruitment@classicfootballshirts.co.uk. Please note: We are not engaging with recruitment agencies for this role, so we kindly ask that agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy.
Category Manager in Manchester employer: Classic Football Company Ltd.
Contact Detail:
Classic Football Company Ltd. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Before your interview, dive into Classic Football Shirts' history, values, and product offerings. This will not only impress them but also help you tailor your answers to show how you fit into their culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Category Manager role. Plus, it shows your genuine interest in the company!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Think about how your past experiences align with the responsibilities of the role. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've managed supplier relationships or driven category performance in previous jobs.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to showcase your passion for football! Whether it's sharing your favourite shirt stories or discussing recent trends in football retail, let your enthusiasm shine through. It’s all about connecting with their mission and values!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Football: Make sure to highlight your love for football in your CV and cover letter. We want to see that you understand the culture and the customers, so share any relevant experiences or stories that showcase your passion!
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect how your experience aligns with the role of Category Manager. Use keywords from the job description to show us you’re the perfect fit for our team.
Be Data-Driven: Since this role is all about making data-driven decisions, include examples of how you've used data in previous roles. Whether it’s forecasting demand or analysing category performance, we want to see your analytical skills shine!
Keep It Professional but Personal: While we love a friendly tone, remember to keep your CV and cover letter professional. Share your achievements and skills, but don’t forget to let your personality come through. We’re looking for someone who fits into our friendly team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Classic Football Company Ltd.
✨Know Your Football
Make sure you brush up on your football knowledge, especially about the brands and products Classic Football Shirts offers. Being able to discuss recent trends, key players, and the culture surrounding football will show your passion and understanding of the industry.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss how you've used data in previous roles to make informed decisions. Bring examples of how you've forecasted demand or analysed category performance, as this role heavily relies on data-driven insights.
✨Build Relationships
Think about your past experiences managing supplier relationships. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've negotiated terms or collaborated with brands to achieve successful product launches. This will demonstrate your ability to manage key partnerships effectively.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with Classic Football Shirts' values and mission. During the interview, express how your personal work ethic aligns with their focus on teamwork, being fan-focused, and staying grounded. This will help you connect with the interviewers on a cultural level.
