Manchester United Extends Reach to Azerbaijan with AFFA Partnership

Manchester United have today signed a partnership with the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) and Bakcell to help develop grassroots football in the country.

In a first for the club, sale the AFFA will become its only Official Football Federation and Football Development Partner and will see Club sponsor Bakcell collaborate to promote and develop youth football in Azerbaijan.   

The Manchester United Soccer School supported by AFFA and Bakcell, anesthetist will see Azerbaijani children learn to play the ‘United Way’ with Soccer Schools coaches specially trained to teach the philosophy that drives the twenty-time English champions.

Manchester United’s Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold said: “This exciting initiative will link the Club to a national football federation for the first time. Azerbaijan is a burgeoning football nation and is home to over a million Manchester United followers, so founding this relationship with the help of our friends at Bakcell is a fantastic development.

Manchester United is synonymous for developing some of the best young talent, and through this new relationship we can help by lending this expertise to a whole new generation of footballers.” 

AFFA President, Rovnag Abdullayev commented: “The commencement of the Manchester United Soccer School, with the support of Bakcell, in Baku is a pivotal event in the country’s footballing history.

“I hope the work to be done by Manchester United Soccer School in Azerbaijan will have a positive effect in a short time span, and children that study here will be able to contribute to the future of Azerbaijani football.”