Manchester United and Apollo Tyres support next generation of footballers
Apollo Tyres, through its Vredestein premium tyre brand, has successfully hosted its latest ‘Soccer School’ day in Enschede, the Netherlands, in partnership with Manchester United. Held on 8 June, the event welcomed children of Apollo Tyres employees to partake in an exclusive coaching session led by Manchester United trainers, with the aim of nurturing the next generation of footballers in the region.
The Soccer School took place at local football club Achilles, situated near Apollo Tyres’ Enschede factory, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The event marks Apollo Tyres’ eighth Soccer School session with Manchester United to date, and follows successful training sessions in 2023 in Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. Many of these events were conducted in partnership with youth charities, focusing on supporting children's education, housing and overall well-being.
The participants, aged between 6 and 14, were joined by Manchester United football legend, Mikaël Silvestre. During a nine-year stint for Manchester United, the former defender helped the club secure multiple Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Football League Cup, two FA Community Shields, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
Since 1999, the Manchester United Soccer Schools team have created and delivered football activities for over 500,000 participants across 90 countries. These programmes introduce children to professional coaching from grassroots to national levels, emphasising the importance of attitude, teamwork, skill, strength and listening. This initiative aims to inspire young people to learn and grow through the sport.
“A core value of Apollo Tyres is working as ‘One Family,’” said Martijn ter Haar, Unit Head of the Apollo Tyres factory in Enschede. “Combining this value with our commitment to health, safety, and vitality, and leveraging our partnerships with organisations like Manchester United, is very rewarding and has become an important part of our community support programme.”
Apollo Tyres and Manchester United
Apollo Tyres became the official Global Tyre Partner of Manchester United in 2018. In 2020, the partnership expanded to include Apollo’s premium Vredestein tyre brand. Today, the Vredestein brand is prominently featured on the pitch-side advertising boards at Manchester United home games.
The alignment of Apollo Tyres' Vredestein brand with Manchester United is compelling, as both entities share many common attributes. Both the football club and the tyre brand have been leading performers in Europe for over a century, highlighted by the company’s numerous award-winning tyres and Manchester United’s English Premier League and European trophies. This partnership underscores a mutual drive for success, built on a foundation of best-in-class performance and a dedication to excellence.