The Scottish professional football club, Rangers FC have announced a new strategic and commercial partnership with the governing body of Indian football, the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The AIFF supervises all levels of football in India, such as the Indian national team, the Indian Super League (ISL), the I-League, and the Super Cup, as well as handling women’s teams and youth national squads.
This new and innovative collaboration with AIFF will see Rangers expand their footprint and advertising ventures in India, constructing on the club’s existing collaboration with the leading Indian Super League side, Bengaluru FC.
Rangers will provide a variety of programs to thousands of Indian coaches, which include talent identification, scouting, and analysis. A team of AIFF coaches and representatives will travel to Glasgow to see the coaching and amenities at Rangers firsthand.
James Bisgrove, Commercial & Marketing Director at Rangers, commented, “The partnership with the AIFF, alongside our strong cooporation 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.”
Savio Medeira, Technical Director and Head of Coach Education, AIFF, said, “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 endeavor 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.”
Gary Gibson, Head of Soccer Academies and International Relations at Rangers, commented, “We are delighted to join the AIFF in this new partnership as the club continues to drive forward our international strategy. Football is growing rapidly in India and this partnership will provide both Rangers and the AIFF with a number of opportunities as we look to provide support to coaches and members. We will work closely to assist with coach education and we look forward to welcoming representatives of the AIFF to Glasgow later this year.”
Mandar Tamhane, CEO Bengaluru FC, 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.”
Meanwhile, on the field, the Indian team is vying for a place in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and will start competing in the final qualifying round this month in Kolkata.