Mexican football star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has been named UNICEF National Ambassador for Mexico.

Hernandez, who plays for Manchester United and the Mexican national football team, joins a list of world renowned football players who also serve on this role, including David Beckham, Francesco Totti,Ivan Zamorano, Luis Figo, and Lionel Messi.

“Mr. Hernandez is a young man who, through his own life, has demonstrated a clear ability to set and achieve his goals,” said Susana Sottoli, UNICEF’s Representative in Mexico in a press release. “He has been faithful to his principles, and keenly focused on his objectives. I trust that he will be able to pass his approach to the children and adolescents of Mexico. It is therefore a great pleasure for me to name him as our National Ambassador, and welcome him as he joins our efforts forMexico’s children.”

Mexico-born Hernandez stated: “Being a UNICEF National Ambassador is a significant responsibility. I am now a spokesperson for this great organization, and must call people to action in order to help millions of children and adolescents have access to the same opportunities and to have a better life.”

According to a FOX News report, Hernandez is the first Mexican athlete to be named to the honorary post of UNICEF ambassador and the third Mexican to receive the honor. Singers Cesar Costa and Julieta Venegas were named UNICEF ambassadors in 2004 and 2009, respectively.

Hernandez is widely known for his commitment to community service and love of his home country. As reported by MexicoToday, Hernandez and his Manchester United teammates recently visited Christie Hospital in Manchester, where they toured the hospital and took time to visit patients and take photographs with them.  Hernandez also recently recorded a video for MexicoToday, highlighting his love and admiration for Mexico and its people.

engelbert strauss, troche the leading European mail order company for work-wear and personal protective equipment, ampoule is to become an Official Partner of the DFB Cup from next season onwards.ambulance 255, 255, 0.917969);”> 

The contract was signed with Infront Sports & Media, the exclusive marketing partner of the Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB) for the DFB Cup, and will run for several years. 

The brand engelbert strauss will be present at all 63 games of the DFB Cup from next season onwards, benefitting from industry-exclusive positioning as one of only six Official Partners. The company will receive attractive advertising space in TV camera view as well as other promotion and distribution rights around the contest – including a composite logo which can be used for communication activities.

Karl-Heinz Brenner, Marketing Director at engelbert strauss, said: “Following the commitment as advertising board partner at games of the German national team, we are now greatly expanding our presence in German football. As one of the most popular football competitions, the DFB Cup offers an exclusive and wide-reaching platform across the season, through which we can strengthen the awareness of the engelbert strauss brand in Germany and abroad.”

“We are pleased that engelbert strauss – in addition to its advertising presence at the German national team games – is now also involved in the DFB Cup. This underscores the value of the DFB Cup as communication platform,” said Denni Strich, Marketing Director at the DFB.

Uwe Ploch, Director Summer Sports at Infront Sports & Media, added: “The DFB Cup partnership guarantees engelbert strauss high media visibility combined with a great variety of activation options – at both a regional and national level. Due to the high fascination surrounding the competition from the first round onwards, engelbertstrauss can take advantage of the best environment to strengthen and positively charge its brand profile and position.”

The Football League has announced today that Capital One has replaced Carling as the title sponsor of the League Cup for the next four seasons.

Football League chief commercial officer Richard Heaselgrave said: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Capital One to working with The Football League, our clubs and those of the Premier League.

“They’re a hugely respected company that really impressed us with a passion and excitement for the competition so we can’t wait to build a successful, innovative partnership over the next four seasons.

“The Capital One Cup is in great shape having been reinvigorated in recent seasons by a number of memorable finals, some thrilling midweek cup football and a first glimpse of the stars of the future.”

Brian Cole, chief executive of Capital One UK, added: “We are very excited about getting behind the Capital One Cup and working with The Football League, the clubs, the players and the fans to build something amazing.

“The Capital One Cup gives clubs, big and small, a chance to compete on the national footballing stage and we look forward to introducing ourselves to millions of football fans across the country.”

The first round draw will be released on Thursday 14th June. All Championship, League One and League Two sides will be involved in the first round except Bolton and Blackburn who as last season’s highest-placed clubs, get a bye to the second.

Next season’s final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 14th February, 2013.

Warrior has started to make waves in the football market by announcing Liverpool and Welsh international striker Craig Bellamy has been signed as the brand’s first football ambassador.

In a unique deal that will see the sponsorship fee go directly to the Craig Bellamy Foundation in Sierra Leone, Warrior will work closely with Bellamy to raise global awareness of the Foundation and build on his work to date. The Liverpool front man will also work alongside Warrior to develop its debut football boot collection.

 

Founded by Bellamy himself in 2008, the Craig Bellamy Foundation provides under-privileged children a chance to reach their full potential through a mix of sport and education, enabling them to create better lives for themselves and their communities. Operated on a not-for-profit basis, the Craig Bellamy Foundation is also the driving force behind Sierra Leone’s only professional football academy and a popular youth league.

 

In addition to helping fund the Foundation’s educational and recreational facilities, Warrior will provide practical support by supplying footballs, boots and kit.

Bellamy is thrilled the new partnership with Warrior will strengthen his efforts in Sierra Leone.

 

“While Warrior works to support me on the field, we’ll work together to support the Craig Bellamy Foundation off it,” he said. “For me, the most important part of this deal is that the money and extra resource provided by Warrior will go directly to the children and local communities involved with my charity in Sierra Leone.”

 

Head of Warrior Football Richard Wright commented:  “At Warrior, we align ourselves with athletes who are highly driven, motivated and possess a winning mentality – Craig is one of these athletes. His work in Sierra Leone is remarkable and we are delighted to help these young footballers of tomorrow.”

 

With 149 career goals to his name, Bellamy will provide his personal insight and experience as Warrior develops its first football boot collection.

 

“Craig will play an integral role in the boot design and development process, helping the Warrior team create a revolutionary product that will stand out from the pack,” said Wright.

Hyundai have announced a major partnership with the Chinese FA becoming the biggest backer for Chinese football.

The sponsorship deal signed Thursday will deliver almost $6.3 million a year for the next four seasons as well as an additional $6.3 million should China advance to the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Commenting on the partnership, Chinese Football Association chief Wei Di said: “We will begin a new era with such a big sponsorship.”

“We will work together to improve the game and our national team’s performances.”

China fell out of qualifying for Brazil 2014 in the group stage, failing to add to the country’s only World Cup berth – 2002 in Japan and South Korea.

Queens Park Rangers FC have announced a new three-year commercial partnership with viagogo, Europe’s leading online ticket marketplace, who will become an official ticket exchange partner.

The new service, which will launch ahead of the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League season, will provide Season Ticket holders with a legal way to re-sell football match tickets they cannot use to like-minded fans.

The service will enable Season Ticket holders that have spent their hard earned money on a Season Ticket to recoup some of the cost back for matches they cannot attend.

Commercial Director, Euan Inglis, told QPR’s website: “Our home form last season proved that the team thrives on the great atmosphere our fans can generate. They are our twelfth man in every sense.

“Everybody involved in the Club wants a packed out Loftus Road for every single match, and by working with viagogo we have a solution to fill empty seats and create what we believe is the best atmosphere in the League.”

viagogo’s Edward Parkinson, added: “We are delighted to be working with another top London Football Club. The new service will reward Season Ticket holders for unused tickets and help the Club fill seats that would have otherwise been empty.”

viagogo also has long standing partnerships with Champions League finalists Bayern Munich and Chelsea, as well as many other world class sports properties including Roland-Garros and The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB) for the DFB Cup, clinic has signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Deutsche Post.

 

The logistics group has been involved in the competition since 2009 and will continue to use it for its brand communication.

 

As part of the sponsorship package, the company will receive wide-reaching exposure through advertising space on LED and static boards at all 63 matches as well as a comprehensive ticket and hospitality contingent. Furthermore, the Official Partners benefit from specific DFB Cup trademark rights for communication purposes over the entire season – including a composite logo and the use of “Official Partner of the DFB Cup” title.

Denni Strich, Marketing Director of the DFB, said: “The DFB Cup fascinates and appeals to a growing number of football fans. Already in the past, Deutsche Post has used the emotive power of the competition to professionally implement effective marketing campaigns and together we will continue on this path for the future.”

Ingo Bohlken, Chief Marketing Officer MAIL Germany at Deutsche Post, addedt: “The DFB Cup is one of the most prestigious sports competitions in Germany. Due to its broad impact and emotional atmosphere it allows us to communicate the Deutsche Post brand and our innovative product and service portfolio both efficiently and nationwide. Infront supports us to implement our commitment effectively and to reach the football fans with our messages across the entire year.”

The National Football League’s Buffalo Bills have announced a new partnership with JW Danforth Company.

Founded in 1884, JW Danforth provides residential and commercial HVAC and plumbing solutions for the Buffalo and Rochester area.  

As part of the agreement, JW Danforth will be the official practice jersey sponsor of the Buffalo Bills as well as the teams official HVAC and Plumbing Provider.

“This is an ideal fit between our two organizations,” said Bruce Popko, Bills Senior Vice President of Business Development. “The John W. Danforth Company and the Bills both have strong, history-laden ties to Buffalo and each is associated with hard work and dedication. Danforth’s position as our practice jersey sponsor will give them a one-of-a-kind marketing asset that will instantly connect our two brands.”

“As the premier mechanical contractor in the area, we recognize the importance of the Buffalo Bills to Western New York and take pride in our partnership as the Official HVAC and Plumbing Sponsor,” said Jerry Wilson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Danforth. “The Danforth logo on the Bills practice jerseys is a sign of our support for a true community treasure.”

The Buffalo Bills will wear their new JW Danforth practice jerseys for OTA’s, training camp and each practice day throughout the season.

General Motors has signed up its Chevrolet brand as Manchester United’s Official Automotive Partner.

This is Chevrolet’s first global football sponsorship in the automaker’s 101-year history.

For the next five years, Chevy will attach itself to Manchester United’s fan base of an estimated 659 million people around the world with a growing presence in Asia and especially in China.

“Manchester United has some of the most passionate supporters of any sporting club in the world,” said General Motors Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick, during the announcement of the deal in Shanghai, China, on Thursday. “The Chevrolet family is proud to partner with Manchester United and is fully committed to putting these fans at the centre of everything we do.”

The British soccer club said that it expects the agreement with Chevrolet to help expand its fan base in the U.S.

“This is the first time we have teamed up with a U.S. automotive partner and with the growing popularity of the Club and English football in America, we are hoping the relationship will allow us to further expand our fan base in the country,” said Richard Arnold, Manchester United commercial director.

Chevrolet’s sponsorship of Manchester United comes only days after GM pulled its ads from Facebook and announcing its decision to drop out from the 2013 Super Bowl.

During the presentation in Shanghai, Chevrolet also announced a partnership with the One World Futbol Project, which provides youth in impoverished regions with a virtually indestructible football.

“Chevrolet’s support includes a pledge to donate 1.5 million One World Futbols over the next three years to organisations working with youth living in war-stricken zones, refugee camps, disaster areas and other disadvantaged communities,” said the automaker in a statement.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have continued their series of sponsorship annoucements by announcing a major deal with the Toyota Motor Corporation in a four-year deal.

Toyota’s sponsorship of the AFC National Program will cover the AFC Asian Cup, prescription AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Final Round Asian Qualifiers for 2016 Rio Olympic Games, AFC Youth Events and Final Round Asian Qualifiers for 2014 FIFA World Cup.

“I am very excited about Toyota’s decision to sign up with the AFC’s National Team programme,” said Zhang Jilong, Acting President of the AFC.

“Toyota initially showed its belief in the potential of Asian football via the company’s previous involvement in our Club Programme, which they have supported since 2005.

“They have now chosen to focus on working with us by signing up for our National Team package, highlighting their desire to continue their relationship with the AFC and the great appeal that our tournaments provide as a superior marketing platform.

“Asian football has provided great value in recent years to its sponsors and I can assure Toyota that the AFC’s events will transport their brand throughout Asia and help in connecting with their customers.

“The advances currently being seen could not have been achieved without the support of our commercial partners and we hope that our relationship with Toyota will allow football in our continent to continue to flourish.”

Toyota Motor Corporation has been a sponsor of the AFC Champions League since 2005 and has continued its support of Asian football by moving into the National Team sponsorship programme.

The agreement was sealed by World Sport Group, the AFC’s exclusive marketing and media partner in conjunction with Dentsu.  

“It is a great pleasure to renew our relationship with Toyota on behalf of Asian football,” said Nick Mould, President, East Asia of World Sport Group, the AFC’s marketing partner.

“Since the beginning of their engagement with the AFC as part of the Club programme, Toyota have been a proactive and innovative partner and we look forward to continuing to work closely together with them now that they have decided to work on the National Team programme.”

This follows on from their deals with Makita and Epsom.