Scottish Premiership club Rangers have signed a strategic and commercial partnership with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The partnership is aimed at growing the club’s footprint and commercial ventures in India.
As a part of the deal, Rangers will launch various programmes to support Indian coaches in areas like talent identification, scouting and analysis. Moreover, a group of AIFF coaches and staff will travel to Glasgow to experience the coaching, facilities and training centres of the club.
Rangers also have in place an ongoing partnership with Indian Super League outfit Bengaluru FC, which started in 2019.
Commenting on the deal, James Bisgrove, commercial and marketing director at Rangers, said:
“The partnership with the AIFF, alongside our strong cooperation with Bengaluru FC, will provide a renewed focus to our activities in India, which is an integral pillar of the club’s international strategy.
“Indian football continues on a rapid growth trajectory and we’re excited by the potential commercial opportunities that are emerging.
“The first Rangers Supporters’ Club was recently formed in India and, as the restrictions of the pandemic are removed, we’re looking forward to expanding Rangers’ presence in the market.
“We’re incredibly excited and proud that Rangers can play a role in the continued growth and development of Indian football alongside our partners in the region.”
Mandar Tamhane, Bengaluru FC chief executive, added:
“The partnership with Rangers was forged with an aim to help Indian football, and not just Bengaluru FC.
“So, to see this strategic and commercial tie up with the AIFF take shape, gives us a deep sense of satisfaction.
“We know what Rangers bring to the table, and I’m certain that the AIFF and the coaches in India will benefit from this in a very big way.”
Savio Medeira, Technical Director and Head of Coach Education at the AIFF, also stated:
“I am honoured that Rangers FC have signed an agreement with us. We are trying in our own way to be self-sustainable in various technical programmes. The association with this historic club will add extreme value to our coach education programme, scouting processes, talent identification, and analysis amongst others, all in our endeavour to move forward together.
“The exchange of coach education programmes will benefit Indian football immensely as our coaches will be able to learn and interact with the best of the world.”
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