TOKYO, Jan 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Japan's Marubeni, which is backed by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, said it had bought British heritage sportswear brand Gola as the trading house moves to tap growing global demand for retro trainers.

The Japanese conglomerate acquired UK-based Jacobson Group -- which has a portfolio of multiple footwear brands including Gola -- as part of its "initiative to build a lifestyle brand business platform", it said Wednesday in a statement.

Gola was founded in 1905 and rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s with its football boots and other products worn by Liverpool stars and World Cup-winning England manager Alf Ramsey.

But the company says it later struggled to compete with the street cred of brands such as Adidas and Nike.

The brand was bought in 1996 by Jacobson Group, which relaunched it to target the "young and style minded", Gola says on its website.

After that, celebrities including Oasis' Gallagher brothers were spotted wearing their shoes, according to Gola.

The acquisition comes as retro trainers, such as Japanese classic shoe brand Onitsuka Tiger, surge in popularity across the world.

Adidas has also sought to shift the company's focus to promoting classic trainers.

Marubeni said its consumer platform, Marubeni Consumer Platform US, anchored by US subsidiary RG Barry, will run the portfolio of footwear brands.