MADRID, Spain – Arabian Gulf League-leaders Al Ahli have made history after they became the first foreign club to sign a partnership with Spain’s La Liga.
The two-year deal is set to centre on sharing knowledge during 14 workshops. The Dubai-outfit will receive expertise in academy development, management and administration, while the competition hopes to boost brand exposure in the Middle East.
Speaking in the presence of La Liga president Javier Tebas at his organisation’s Madrid headquarters, chairman His Excellency Abdullah Al Naboodah was convinced the arrangement would cement the Red Knights’ “unshakable” position in UAE football.
He said: “In recent history, our football team has continuously set our place as the top contender in Dubai and the UAE. Now with this partnership with LaLiga, our club’s thriving management will continue to shine and further solidify our unshakable position in the UAE, from every club-related aspect.
“We are proud to bring a partnership of this magnitude to the UAE, and to lead in a new standard of football management.”
La Liga opened their first-ever foreign office in Dubai three years ago. They have inked similar link-ups with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Pro League Committee – the AGL’s governing body – during this time.
The workshops will begin in Dubai during May. Marketing, stadium security, strategy, legal affairs, injury prevention and nutrition are some of the topics which will be explored.
They are not set to be exclusively open to Ahli employees, with the sessions able to be attended by anyone involved in football in the country.
A training program from youth coaches in Spain will be implemented to pass on their successful methodology to Ahli. The club’s junior sides will also gain invitations to tournaments there.
La Liga have worked diligently to promote the Spanish game in recent years through initiatives such as the LFP World Challenge.
Boss Tebas insisted the benefits of the announcement would not be one way.
The 53-year-old said: “It is an honour for us to reach this agreement for such important team as Al Ahli. They have a short history, but a very good one.
“More than anything, we want to share our experience and help Ahli become an even bigger club.
“For La Liga, we have spent three years in the region. It is very important that the La Liga brand gets a stronger image in the area.
“This is why we have been working for the last few years. This agreement with Al Ahli goes in this direction.”
Discussions on the revolutionary deal have been conducted during the last two months after an approach by Ahli. This overture was made in a bid to close the gap on the industry-leading European clubs, according to CEO Ahmed Khalifa.
He said: “We are now seven years into professionalism (2008/09 was the first campaign). But we are still very far away from the levels in Europe.
“With this kind of agreement, we wanted to gain a good chance to teach our guys some new knowledge.
“La Liga were happy to sign Al Ahli as their first club in the world. It is great to be first in the whole world, not just the UAE.”