Derby County has announced an international link with Dutch side FC Utrecht. The initial agreement is for two years with a possibility for a longer agreement if the intial two years are deemed a success. Derby will be able to send coaches and younger players to FC Utrecht for valuable first team experience and new coaching ideas. This agreement would be very similar to the Manchester United-Royal Antwerp relationship that has United send players to Antwerp on loan arrangements for experience or to gain a work permit when one wasn't granted by the British Home Office. FC Utrecht and Derby County will exchange players, coaches, tap into their global knowledge of training, commercial knowledge, and training methods as well as play a pre-season friendly each year. This years the pre-season friendly will be August 2 at Pride Park.
FC Utrecht Club Profile:
Founded: 1970
Stadium: Stadion_Galgenwaard
Stadium Capacity: 24,426
Club Colors: Red , White
Country: Holland
Honors: Eredivise Winners 1958
KNVB Cup Winners 1985, 2003, 2004
Johan Cruijff Shield Winners: 2004
Retired Numbers: 4 David Di Tommasso
Official Web Site: http://www.fcutrecht.nl/
Founded: 1970
Stadium: Stadion_Galgenwaard
Stadium Capacity: 24,426
Club Colors: Red , White
Country: Holland
Honors: Eredivise Winners 1958
KNVB Cup Winners 1985, 2003, 2004
Johan Cruijff Shield Winners: 2004
Retired Numbers: 4 David Di Tommasso
Official Web Site: http://www.fcutrecht.nl/
History:
FC Utrecht came into being after a merger with the three local clubs in Utrecht, DOS, Elinkwijk, and Velox in 1970. They have never been relegated from the Eredivise. FC Utrecht finished 10th this year in the Eredivise.
FC Utrecht came into being after a merger with the three local clubs in Utrecht, DOS, Elinkwijk, and Velox in 1970. They have never been relegated from the Eredivise. FC Utrecht finished 10th this year in the Eredivise.
2 comments:
These partnerships have worked out for MLS Clubs.
For example Colorado has a link in ownership (Stan Kroenke the majority owner of the Rapids owns 15% of Arsenal) with Arsenal and my interview today with Marin Rennie from Scotland yielded me the information that Tam McManus who according to him "kept Dufermline in the SPL last year" signed with Colorado simply because of the Arsenal link which he discovered while checking out English clubs. Arsenal has also opened an academy on the Rapids facility.
Also FC Dallas has gotten Ricardinho on loan from Athletico in Brazil their partner club, and I know Red Bull Salzburg and RBNY exchange players regularly.
Good move, really. FC Utrecht currently has Willem van Hanegem as head coach, and he's a Dutch legend. Good understanding of football, and the whole team wants to play well - just misses some quality, and not too much depth.
I would imagine that the main flow would be for Derby loan players to Utrecht to get playing time, and - sorry - quality coaching. If it also means that you get them to have a good look at your youth academy, that's probably where you could make the most gains.
Good for the long term vision.
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