Soccer Players To Wear New Official AYSO-FOX Sports 1 Jerseys
“With 500,000 youth players, AYSO is really the biggest soccer club in the world. AYSO’s reach – especially with 6 million plus alumni – is really enormous and we are thrilled with our partnership with Fox Sports,” said Lynn Berling-Manuel, AYSO Chief Marketing Officer.
Youth Soccer News: The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and FOX Sports announced a jersey sponsorship as part of the five-year partnership between the two organizations. Starting this spring, it’s expected that 500,000 AYSO players will wear the new official AYSO-FOX Sports 1 jersey. FOX Sports 1 is prominently displayed on the right chest of all AYSO jerseys. The AYSO logo has been displayed on the left chest of all AYSO jerseys for 50 years.
Timed to show support of women’s soccer, the announcement and jersey were unveiled today on-air during FOX Sports 1’s coverage of the U.S. Women’s National Team Algarve Cup Final by FOX Sports analyst and AYSO alumni Alexi Lalas and AYSO National Executive Director Ian McMahon.
“From the FIFA World Cup to the UEFA Champions League to Major League Soccer, FOX Sports is home to the biggest properties in soccer, and through this jersey sponsorship we are excited about expanding our relationship with another fantastic organization in AYSO,” said Chris Hannan, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Communications & Integration. “FOX Sports champions the same values of quality soccer, family, fitness and fun as AYSO and we’re thrilled to enhance the development of youth soccer in the U.S.”
The jersey sponsorship is the latest collaboration that brings together the oldest and most well-known youth sports organization with the expansive and comprehensive soccer portfolio FOX Sports offers.
“Jersey sponsors are part of the global soccer sphere from the UEFA Champions League to Major League Soccer,” said Lynn Berling-Manuel, AYSO Chief Marketing Officer. “AYSO is the biggest youth soccer club in America and we are excited about our fabulous partnership with Fox Sports which brings an unparalleled level of support and credibility to AYSO and its nearly 900 community soccer programs.”
“Soccer is a player’s game and AYSO is where a lot of great soccer players got their start,” said Berling-Manuel. “US Soccer has looked at how you create great soccer players and know in the younger years, it is important for the players to be creative and have positive coaching experience. You don’t yell at kid to learn algebra. And, you don’t yell at a kid to become a great athlete.” AYSO’s philosophy inspires a passion for the beautiful game and is focused on player development; every player always plays 50% of the game even at the highest competitive levels.
Berling-Manuel said, “Fox has been incredibly supportive of AYSO. We share common values – AYSO helps create lifelong soccer fans and we provide the underpinnings of a great sports experience for a lifetime.”
Beginning this June, FOX Sports is home to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, with unprecedented multiplatform coverage including 16 matches live on the FOX broadcast network for the first time ever. Women’s soccer is more popular than ever and 2015 is being called the year of women in soccer. All eyes are on the US Women’s National Team and their head coach Jill Ellis.
“AYSO has always championed women in sports. We were the first national soccer organization to have a girls soccer program and I think the US Women’s National Team players are great role models,” said Berling-Manuel.
This summer kicks off the network’s exclusive rights to the next four FIFA World Cups, with the men’s events in 2018, 2022, 2026 and the women’s tournament in 2019 and 2023.
FOX Sports 1 features a diverse selection of soccer properties such as the prestigious UEFA Champions League, Major League Soccer, England’s FA Cup competition, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF Champions League and soon to be Germany’s Bundesliga. Since AYSO was founded in 1964, more than six million children have played in its community soccer programs, with more than 50,000 teams taking to fields this fall.
Among its notable alumni are U.S. Soccer Hall of Famers and FOX Sports analysts Eric Wynalda and Lalas as well as U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan and recently retired U.S. and MLS star Landon Donovan.
