In the context of a footballer setting up his own company to sell a range of clothes, the most relevant type of intellectual property he can use to indicate that the clothes are made by his company would be trademarks.
Here's a brief overview of each option:
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Trademarks: This is the most suitable option. A trademark can be a logo, brand name, or slogan that distinguishes the products of one company from those of others. Registering a trademark helps to protect the brand identity of the clothing line.
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Patents: These are used to protect inventions or processes, not typically applicable for clothing articles unless there’s a unique functional aspect.
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Geographical indications: These indicate that a product possesses qualities or a reputation due to its geographic origin. They are more applicable to products like wine or cheese rather than clothing.
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Copyright: This protects original works of art, but it typically does not extend to clothing designs unless they are considered artistic works (e.g., specific prints or patterns that can be classified as creative works).
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Registered designs: This protects the aesthetic design of a product. While it can be relevant to clothing, it does not serve the same purpose as a trademark in establishing brand identity.
In summary, trademarks would be the primary intellectual property tool for branding and signaling that a particular range of clothes is associated with the footballer's company.