'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Most of the European clubs have high visibility in North America, the Middle East and East Asia. South America doesn’t have the same financial profit as North America and the Middle East, or the popularity for European teams like East Asia. Australia gets bumped off due to a combination of distance and lack of support.
Simply put, India is the next big destination for most of the European clubs. With a billion-plus population, prospering economy and a wide supporter base of more than 125 million people, it is still a relatively unharnessed market, brimming with potential.
Among the Premier League clubs, Manchester United has taken the lead in investing in India. It is estimated that MUFC has more than 35 million fans in India. Initiatives like MUFC Cafés, Soccer Schools, scholarships, and competitions show Manchester United’s burgeoning interest in India. Manchester United almost toured India this year, when they were slated to play against Juventus, but couldn’t get the plans to materialize.
A five-year deal, worth £12 million, was signed last year with the Indian telecommunications company Bharti Airtel and moves are now underway to extend United’s reach to India, with the Red Devil’s likely to tour the country within the next two years. Bharti Airtel, in association with Manchester United Soccer School, had announced ‘Airtel Rising Stars’ (ARS) which was India’s largest under-16 talent hunt which gave promising youngsters the chance to train with the Manchester United Soccer School and start a career in professional football. Such initiatives will be helpful to the development of football in India.
Manchester United Soccer Schools aim to develop the spirit of ‘Learning to play the United Way’, with an emphasis on skill development. Western India Football Association (WIFA) has tied up with Manchester United to provide training to young budding footballers. With the success of the school in Mumbai, it might be a matter of time before it opens centres in other metro cities.
On the financial front, it will prove to be beneficial for both the club and the country. “An investment of INR 100 crore is slated for the expansion of our food and beverages (F&B) business,” said Om Goenka, chairman, Mirah Group, which has exclusive rights for the MUFC café’s expansion in India. On the other hand, it will give more popularity to the ‘Manchester United’ brand name which has its own benefits for the club.
Other football clubs are also itching to tour India. Chelsea FC has also shown an interest to follow United’s model in India, with the possibility of touring within the next five years. Bayern Munich has already visited India which saw more than 120,000 spectators turn up at Salt Lake Stadium. Blackburn Rovers toured India in 2011 to play Pune FC in a friendly.
This spurt of European clubs’ interest in India can only lead to good things for the development of football as a sport. Soccer schools, with their experienced foreign coaches, are an attempt to improve the quality of football players at the grassroots level. If this growth story continues, one day it might even be possible to cheer for the Indian National Football team at the FIFA World Cup.
