October 11 – Bundlesliga’s VfB Stuttgart is the latest German club to open up links in China, signing a five-year contract with the Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F to develop youth players and train coaches.
VfB Stuttgart’s Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Jochen Roettgermann said: “Our collaboration concentrates on the development of young talents, youth coaches and advanced training of coaches.”
The first steps in China via the youth development co-operation is a pre-curser to opening the door to a wider Chinese fan market and sponsorship for the German club.
Guangzhou R&F will be able to draw on VfB Stuttgart’s administration and commercial expertise as well as its coaching department. In return Stuttgart will be able to market the club brand through Guangzhou’s extensive club network with a local presence.
“This type of collaboration enables us to follow our own path in terms of the internationalization of VfB Stuttgart. We’ve constantly stressed that VfB are looking for partners on an equal footing, and that’s exactly how this partnership will be shaped,” said Röttgermann.
“Together, both ourselves and R&F want to develop concepts and ideas from which both clubs can profit economically in China, Germany and also other countries. We are all investing our know-how into this partnership – that’s far more significant for us than immediately generating high revenues.”
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