August 31 – The fashion for establishing club partners outside national domestic markets is catching on at all levels. French top tier women’s team Girondins de Bordeaux has signed a partnership Olney Girls 99 based in Washington, Maryland, forming Girondins de Bordeaux USA.
Olney Girls 99 was founded in 2009 and is very much a grassroots club with 60 players in three age-groups – U13, U15, and U19.
Fomer Girondins defender, Nisa Saveljic (pictured left), now CEO of the American club, initiated the link. The Olney teams will now play using the French name and in the Girondins colours.
This partnership is a fantastic opportunity for us to develop women’s football and make the club more visible internationally,” said Stéphane Martin (pictured right), president of the Ligue 1 Conforama club. “The fact that this project is carried by Nisa Saveljic, who wears our navy and white colors in his heart, has only strengthened our desire to embark on this adventure. ”
The partnership is a first step for the Bordeaux club into the US market where it strategically wants to develop its brand and presence at grassroots level. The first step will be to increase the number of girls age group teams in the US to eight, as well as develop a men’s team.
Other initiatives will see coaching seminars for local coaches, access to summer courses as well as the development of a pathway for players to go to American universities.
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