Al Ain Club Investment Company has signed a two-year agreement with Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt to share facilities and expertise in areas such as training, youth development, stadium operations and strategy.
The agreement will see specialist management, commercial and maintenance teams from Frankfurt’s world-class Commerzbank-Arena, share their knowledge and experience with their counterparts at Al Ain’s spectacular new Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.
Al Ain Club Investment Company staff completed a first stadium and event management training programme in Frankfurt, thereby taking initial steps towards a successful, mutually beneficial long-term co-operation.
This unique partnership between an Emirati and a German football club includes scope to hold training camps at each other’s grounds, participate in friendly matches and could help pave the way for the establishment of an annual winter tournament for European and Emirati clubs.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for both Al Ain and Eintracht Frankfurt to develop their capabilities as clubs and understanding of the culture and strategies of each other’s operations,” said Kareem Nagy, CEO of Al Ain Club Investment Company.
“It will once again strengthen the Al Ain international bond with overseas clubs and help us progress as a professional sports organisation and the leading football stadium in this region.”
The partnership also provides a potential platform for mutual training camps, where the German side will hold friendlies at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium during their winter training camp, and Al Ain FC will have the option to play at Frankfurt’s famous ground during the summer.
The agreement sets out a structured knowledge-sharing framework that will see Eintracht Frankfurt provide Al Ain FC with training and experience in areas including youth teams’ development programs, first team and football academies, as well as operations and long-term investment strategy.
