SOCCER
OL Reign announce a partnership with Olympique Lyonnais and Club América Femenil
The agreement is described as ‘unique’ and follows a series of relationships between clubs from the two countries.
Three clubs have announced a partnership that could potentially see the way women’s football is experienced both on and off the pitch. The agreement comes after discussions from three teams of different countries: OL Reign of Seattle, Washington, Olympique Lyonnais of Lyon (France) and Club América of Mexico City agreed on a formal relationship that is unprecedented in the sport yet forms part of a bigger trend as a whole.
The three clubs have agreed to a relationship that is based on three pillars: knowledge sharing, structural organisation and non-sporting awareness, themes which will look to be beneficial for all people related to the sport or the clubs in any way, both professionally and emotionally.
An agreement that will ‘campaign on the values of sport’
A statement from the OL Reign website said:” The first axis will be developed around aspects related to women’s professional teams, with the sharing of knowledge and skills between the various staffs of the three clubs, exchanges of information on recruitment, scouting networks and the organization of friendly games.”
it continued: “A second level of collaboration will be set up between the academies, embodied by exchanges on the organization of the structures, the strategies and the techniques of training between the educational teams, immersion courses and invitations on the youth tournaments.”
“Finally, on the non-sporting side, synergies will be activated around joint communication campaigns on the values of sport, exemplarity and transmission to young people, sporting excellence and certain CSR themes. The sales and marketing teams will also share their networks and international partnership opportunities.”
“We are proud today to bring a new dynamic to women’s soccer internationally,” said Vincent Ponsot, General Manager of Football at OL Reign.
A growing trend in women’s football
The partnership between the clubs is not something new in the sport, with plenty of clubs across different nations having agreed on mutually beneficial relationships in order to improve things such as infrastructure and knowledge. The first time two teams from North America’s two biggest league joined forces was with Angel City of the NWSL and Tigres Femenil of Liga MX. This deal, announced in May 2022, was announced to last for 2 years and included playing friendlies together, as well as promoting community-impact events featuring fans, civic organisations and clubs in the two cities.
Tigres president Mauricio Culebro said in a 2022 statement: “It is an honor to make this alliance with Angel City, a young franchise with a huge push. We have found similar objectives in the search to continue promoting women’s football. We want to turn Tigres Femenil into one of the most renowned teams at an international level, and this type of alliance allows us to get closer to that goal.”
Another pair of clubs who announced an agreement in August 2022 similar to those mentioned are Club Tijuana and San Diego Wave, the current club of USWNT star Alex Morgan.