Aon Corp (AOC.N), the world's largest insurance broker, has agreed a four-year deal to sponsor the shirts of English Premier League champions Manchester United from the start of the 2010-11 season. Manchester United will replace the three-letter logo of one American insurer, now emblazoned on players’ shirts, with the three-letter logo of another American insurer.
United's current 14 million pounds ($23.25 million) a year deal with U.S. insurance giant American International Group (AIG.N) runs out in June 2010.
Details of the agreement were not disclosed but U.S. media reports said it was worth about 20 million pounds a year.
"We are delighted to be entering such an important relationship with a company of the stature of Aon and to have its logo adorn our shirts from the start of the 2010-11 season," United chief executive David Gill said in a statement.
"We look forward to being closely aligned with the world leader in risk management, a firm which shares our values and is an exciting partner for Manchester United.
"Today's announcement clearly strengthens our position as one of the biggest clubs in world football."
“They are the brand that everyone wants to associate with,” said Nigel Currie, director of Brand Rapport, a sponsorship agency in Guildford, England.
David Gill, chief executive of Manchester United, said the deal “clearly strengthens our position as one of the biggest clubs in world football.” United won the Premier League title last month for the third year in a row to continue their domination of English football but they lost 2-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League final to end the season on a disappointing note.
The deal represents a coup for Aon, which has secured one of the most prestigious advertising deals in sport with United's huge global fan base making them one of the top prizes in sports sponsorship.
Patience, flair and a brilliant game of keep-away prevailed over force Wednesday night when Barcelona dominated Manchester United, 2-0, to win the European Champions League title, Europe’s most prestigious club soccer tournament.
Barcelona controlled the ball for long stretches with its unhurried and clever passing, attacked incessantly, held tight with a patchwork defense and made a tactical switch at forward, placing Lionel Messi as a central striker and shifting Samuel Eto’o to the right wing. Eventually, Messi drifted into midfield to secure possession. Both he and Eto’o delivered goals as Barcelona won its third European title and second in four years.
It will be left to Barcelona’s supporters to gleefully debate whether this is the Catalans’ greatest team, now that the first-year coach Pep Guardiola has guided his squad to the Spanish League title, the Spanish Cup and now the European Cup with a style that is familiarly elegant and ebullient. For a night, it was enough for Barcelona fans — seemingly the vast majority among 72,000 at Olympic Stadium — to celebrate with cameras that flashed like fireflies as the trophy was held aloft in a shower of confetti.
“We are not the best team of history, but we have played the best season in history to win three titles and the way we won,” said Guardiola, 38, who has won a European championship both as a Barcelona player and coach.
Manchester United, meanwhile, lost for the first time in 26 Champions League matches and failed to defend its 2008 title. Even with four attackers in the second half, the English Premier League champions often seemed lethargic, uninvolved — at times unrecognizable — after missing several chances in the early minutes of the game.
So strong and constrictive on most nights, the Manchester United defense was unable to subdue the organized and creative Barcelona attack, which flowed with the inevitability of water through any available crease. Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester manager, dismissed his defense as “shoddy.”
Guardiola had urged his Barcelona players to be daring, and after the victory said, “We wanted to say we played and were not being cowards.” He added, “There’s nothing more dangerous than not taking risks.” Pep Guardiola dedicated Barcelona's 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the final of the Champions League Wednesday to Italian football legend Paolo Maldini.
Barcelona’s one apparent weakness, a depleted defense, never became a liability. Dani Alves and Éric Abidal were suspended and Rafael Márquez was shelved with injury. But Guardiola found a reliable solution, placing Carles Puyol at right back, Yaya Touré in central defense alongside Gerard Piqué and Sylvinho at left back. They remained impenetrable.
Guardiola made another adroit move up front. Last year in the Champions League semifinals, Manchester United’s left back, Patrice Evra, had handcuffed Messi on the right wing. On Wednesday, Guardiola countered with Messi as a central striker, moving Eto’o outside. Later, Messi retreated into midfield and, along with Xavi Hernández, helped Barcelona control the ball as if it were tethered to his foot. Sometimes, it seemed minutes passed before Manchester United could regain possession from the smaller, more dexterous Barcelona players.
“If they get in front of you, they’re very difficult to beat,” Ferguson said. “They can keep the ball in areas of the field where it is difficult to protect.”
Early on, it was Manchester United that threatened to dominate. After missing several inviting opportunities, though, the team deflated, never regaining its spirit and vigor.
In the second minute, forward Cristiano Ronaldo drove a low, hard free kick that bounced and could not be smothered by Victor Valdés, the Barcelona goalkeeper. Park Ji-sung, Manchester United’s tireless winger and the first Asian player to participate in a Champions League final, pounced on the rebound, but a Barcelona defender slid across his path. The shot deflected high over the crossbar. Ronaldo later lashed two shots wide, unfulfilled chances that Manchester United could not afford.
“Losing that first goal was decisive for us,” Ferguson said. “We couldn’t recover from that.”
Barcelona quickly struck back. In the 10th minute, midfielder Andrés Iniesta, recovered from a thigh injury, played the ball to Eto’o on the right flank. Eto’o, a Cameroonian forward, cut sharply inside, turning the defender Nemanja Vidic, leaving him corkscrewed and helpless. Eto’o punched the ball into the net off the left hand of Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, giving Barcelona the only goal it would need.
After halftime, Manchester United clearly needed an infusion of energy, but neither the replacement forwards Carlos Tévez nor Dimitar Barbatov could kick-start a somnolent engine.
And soon the game fell out of reach.
In the 70th minute, Puyol stole a pass for Barcelona, beginning a magical sequence that finished with Xavi chipping a superb pass from outside the area to a waiting Messi, six yards from the goal, unattended by two defenders. He headed the ball over van der Sar’s head and Barcelona took an insurmountable 2-0 lead. Now it is Messi, not Ronaldo, who is certain to gain favor as the world’s greatest player.
“We didn’t have to win to know he’s the best,” Guardiola said.
In the end, though, Barcelona did win, primarily by getting the ball and refusing to give it back.
“For us, we are a horrible team, a disaster team, when we don’t have the ball,” Guardiola said. “We need the ball. We got it.”
Manchester United moved to the Barclays Premier League summit after scoring a last-minute goal.
It appeared the Red Devils would have to settle for a point despite keeping a record-equalling 10th clean sheet.
But when Carlos Tevez broke free of the Bolton Wanderers defence, his cross was perfect for Dimitar Berbatov, who finally broke Jussi Jaaskelainen's brave resistance.
Manchester United carved out a priceless victory after a tough examination away to Stoke City.
Carlos Tevez secured the Barclays Premier League points for Manchester United against 10-man Stoke at the Britannia Stadium with the winner seven minutes from time.
He scored only his second league goal of the campaign with a touch at the back post following an incisive move involving Gary Neville and substitute Dimitar Berbatov.
The strike came with Stoke down on numbers after Andy Wilkinson was dismissed in the 72nd minute for two yellow cards.
Manchester United and Portugal goal ace Cristiano Ronaldo was named FIFPro World Player of the Year on Tuesday.
The international players' union, which has 57,500 members, announced on Monday that the Manchester United winger, who scored 42 goals last season when the Red Devils won both the Champions League and Premier League, had topped their poll. The honour, voted by professional footballers from all over the world, was widely expected to be awarded to the winger after he scored 42 goals for United last season.
"To be recognised by my fellow professional players worldwide coming from over 50,000 players is amazing," the 23-year-old, who beat 54 other world class players to the title said. "I would like to thank my teammates and coaches and everyone involved at Man United and the national team, as well as my family and friends for their support," Ronaldo said. "Thank you also to FIFPro for this award and for your work in protecting the interests and welfare of players around the world."
Ronaldo was also named in the FifPro team alongside United team-mate Rio Ferdinand.
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Chelsea and England captain John Terry also made the team, as did AC Milan's midfielder Kaka and Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo, who helped his club to a Premier League and Champions League double last season, is also a strong contender to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the Ballon d'Or.
English premiership giants Manchester United were held to a one all draw by Chelsea on Sunday at the Stamford Bridge. Salomon Kalou scored late and Chelsea salvaged a 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Sunday, stretching the Blues' home unbeaten streak in the league to 85 games.
Ji-Sung Park put United ahead in the 18th minute after Chelsea keeper Petr Cech fumbled Dimitar Berbatov's shot. But Chelsea were building up a head of steam and it was no surprise when they drew level with 10 minutes left.
United lost keeper Edwin van der Sar to injury in the first half and Chelsea took control of a disjointed game.
Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka wasted great chances before substitute Kalou headed in with ten minutes left.
It stretched Chelsea's unbeaten sequence in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge to 85 games, but Sir Alex Ferguson will be frustrated that his side failed to build on a perfect start and lost their way as the game went on.
Chelsea will be delighted and relieved with a point - but they should have claimed all three after dominating the second half.
United opted to keep Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, where he was joined by Carlos Tevez as Berbatov and Wayne Rooney were paired up front.
Chelsea were forced into a reshuffle of their own when Deco injured a thigh in the warm-up, although they were hardly weakened by the subsequent inclusion of Michael Ballack.
It also keeps Luiz Felipe Scolari's men six points ahead of United in the early stages of the title race.
"We played with great tempo in the first 20 minutes - the real shame was that we didn't go for the jugular at 1-0 up.'' Ferguson said.
"We had control of the match at that point but we eased off and allowed them to get to half-time.''
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Dimitar Berbatov will give Manchester United's attack a "new and exciting dimension" this season.
With Cristiano Ronaldo sidelined through injury, Ferguson is relieved to have finally recruited Berbatov, whose touch, vision and presence seems likely to complement the more dynamic talents of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.
The Bulgarian has been a long-term target of the double-winners, who had an approach rebuffed last season. They reignited their interest this summer, as they looked to complete their striking options up front.
"This is a key signing," said Ferguson after United agreed to pay Tottenham £30.75 million for Berbatov. "Dimitar is one of the best and most exciting strikers in world football. His style and ability will give the team a different dimension and I am sure he will be a popular player with the fans."
Ferguson's personal intervention was understood to have played a crucial role in the dramatic climax to United's long-running pursuit of Berbatov.
The deal was under severe doubt after Tottenham agreed a fee with Manchester City. But Ferguson drove Berbatov away from Manchester airport in his Bentley and eventually ensured the Bulgarian signed a four-year deal at Old Trafford.
"Joining Manchester United is a dream come true for me," said the 27-year-old forward.
"I look forward to playing my part in helping this club win more honours in the years to come."
Berbatov, 27, agreed to a four-year contract with United and Tottenham confirmed the deal on their website 45 minutes after the transfer window shut.
United submitted papers to the Premier League 40 minutes before the midnight deadline. The deal, which will see Fraizer Campbell move in the other direction on a season-long loan, was duly confirmed at 12.40am.
The fee is more than United had originally seemed willing to pay, chiefly because of City's audacious bid to sign the player yesterday afternoon.
Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, had reportedly agreed a deal of £35 million deal with City. But Berbatov's insistence on joining United, and the increased bid from Old Trafford, eventually allowed Ferguson to claim a small victory over City, in what is set to become a long-drawn out war for supremacy between the two clubs.
Spurs were greatly opposed to their approach for their star player and reported Manchester United to the Football Association accusing them of an illegal approach for the 27-year-old. Nevertheless, they remained at the front of the queue to land their man despite fleeting interest from Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Manchester United picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 triumph at Portsmouth.
It was only their second victory in the last six visits to Fratton Park and it was thanks to a scruffy 33rd-minute goal claimed by Darren Fletcher which will probably go down as a Sylvain Distin own-goal.
Patrice Evra's cross from the left struck both Sol Campbell and Fletcher - United's scorer in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United last week - and was creeping past a stranded David James when Distin's frantic attempt to clear off the line sent the ball spiralling into the roof of the net.
Pompey were a little unlucky with a few near-misses but finished pointless after two matches having failed to really test goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
"We played some excellent football. It's a difficult place to come. Last year we drew here, the year before we lost - so it's a bonus. We tried to get a system where the players were comfortable in their positions. We used the players in the right way."
- Sir Alex Ferguson
"I thought it was a very even game up until they scored. The way the first half went, I was well pleased. We have three or four players who haven't played for a while and missed a pre-season and I had to throw them in. The work rate was much better today and you couldn't fault the effort."
MANCHESTER United's French defender Mikael Silvestre has signed for Arsenal on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Silvestre had spent nine seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford but his move south to North London means he joins up with manager Arsene Wenger whose defensive options will have increased with his signature.
The United contract of the 31-year-old, who missed a large part of last season with knee ligament damage, was set to expire next season. He had been linked with a move to Bordeaux and Manchester City during the summer but opted to move to the capital city instead.
With his contract set to expire in 2009 Ferguson has allowed Silvestre - who is the first player to leave United for Arsenal since Brian Kidd 34 years ago - to join one of their major Barclays Premier League rivals.
Arsenal though are short on experience and Wenger cited Silvestre's ability to fulfil several defensive positions as the two factors behind the deal.
“We have a strong squad but a young squad and Mikael's versatility, experience and calibre will provide the extra depth we need to reinforce our challenge for honours this season. His defensive adaptability will serve us well and it's a big plus that Mikael has top-level experience and a great understanding of football in the (Barclays) Premier League.” Wenger said.
Ferguson signed Silvestre from Inter Milan in 1999 after he began his career with Rennes who he left for the San Siro in 1998.
Silvestre enjoyed considerable success with the Red Devils and won four Barclays Premier League titles, an FA Cup winner's medal and a League Cup winner's medal in his 361 appearances with the club.
But his final season at United was hampered by a knee ligament injury sustained against Everton in September 2007 which restricted him to just six competitive appearances.
Silvestre, who has also won 40 caps for France and was part of the squad which reached the World Cup final in 2006, is looking forward to a new phase in his career.
Silvestre looks set to go in to the Arsenal squad ahead of the side's Barclays Premier League match at Fulham on Saturday,
“I've spent a large part of my career at United, the last nine years, and I'll remember that time fondly but feel I'm ready for a new challenge. Arsenal is known for playing technical and skilful football, and has a young but experienced squad. I'm really excited about this next stage of my career, hopefully playing my part in helping the club to new successes.'' said Silvestre who has been handed the number 18 shirt.
Darren Fletcher salvaged a 1-1 draw for Manchester United on Sunday to prevent Newcastle inflicting an early blow to its Premier League title defense, but the Red Devils lost more players to injuries in its season opener.
Obafemi Martins then stunned the home crowd after scoring with a free header from a corner, but it took United just two minutes to reply through a Darren Fletcher strike.
United, which also won the Champions League in May, saw its pursuit of a winner denied by a number of saves from Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given and injuries in midfield.
However, despite all their huffing and puffing, United seemed to lack the firepower and creative spark given to them by the injured Cristiano Ronaldo and the visitors held on reasonably comfortably to secure an excellent start to the season.
Sir Alex Ferguson has not ruled out the possibility of Barcelona striker Thierry Henry moving to Manchester United this week. The veteran Scot is keen to land a new forward as Wayne Rooney is struggling with a virus and Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to miss the first six weeks of the season. Louis Saha is also on the sidelines so Carlos Tevez had to play as a lone forward in Sunday's Community Shield win over Portsmouth at Wembley.
However, Ferguson is concerned by his side's lack of a cutting edge, saying: "It's been pressing since the end of last season. We like to operate with four strikers and we haven't been able to do that."
Of the speculation linking United with Henry, Ferguson added: "There's a name every day."I can't answer the question because I don't have the right answer. It's possible I'll sign someone this week. We're trying and we're looking at one or two options. Hopefully we'll get something done."
Manchester United fans can look forward to watching Cristiano Ronaldo for at least another year. Sir Alex Ferguson welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester United yesterday and then raised the possibility of the Portugal forward agreeing a new contract at Old Trafford before the season begins next weekend.
After declaring in an interview this week that he would be staying at United for at least another season, Ronaldo made a point of reiterating his wish “one day” to play for Real and be closer to his family in Portugal. Ferguson dismissed suggestions that Ronaldo's motivation may be adversely affected by being denied his dream move and claimed that, with time, the Portuguese will increasingly value his career at Old Trafford.
But while the Spanish champions are unlikely to concede defeat in their efforts to sign Ronaldo — many believe a transfer has simply been delayed by 12 months in the wake of Ferguson’s refusal to sell — the United manager feels that the longer the 23-year-old stays at the club, the more he will realise that the grass is not greener elsewhere and that there is no better place to play his football.
United have kept to their promise not to improve the five-year, £120,000-a-week contract that Ronaldo signed in April 2007, but it will be in their interest to have secured the prized asset on a new deal before the start of the 2009-10 campaign.
The Manchester United international striker is almost certain to miss the opening match of the English League against Newcastle United due to a stomach virus. England international striker Wayne Rooney is struggling to become fit after picking up a stomach virus on his club's preseason tour of Nigeria. Sky Sports TV said Tuesday that Rooney contracted the virus while in Nigeria for a friendly win over Portsmouth, which United meets again on Sunday in the season-opening Community Shield at Wembley.
Rooney has been unable to train since returning from Africa at the start of last week, putting his fitness well behind schedule for the new season. Manchester United are to face Newcastle on August 17, in the first match of the English Premier League 2008/2009, and Wayne Rooney is struggling to play that match.
United manager Alex Ferguson revealed the problem at a news conference on Tuesday, saying that Rooney would miss this weekend's traditional Community Shield season-opener against FA Cup winners Portsmouth at Wembley. Ferguson told Sky Sports News: "I doubt we'll get Rooney fit for the start of the season with the virus he's had. It's a virus he picked up in Nigeria and it's not a nice one, but quite a few have had it," said the Scot, who confirmed that Rooney was not suffering from malaria.
Rooney has scored 53 goals for United in the last four seasons. Rooney's illness means he could also miss England's friendly against the Czech Republic on Aug. 20 at Wembley. It could also prompt United to revive its efforts to sign Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham.
Another Manchester United player who will be missing from the squad to face Portsmouth and the season's start will be Brazilian Anderson. The 20-year-old midfielder is on international duty at the Olympics in Beijing and will not return to the club until mid-August at the earliest.
Manchester United was already without Cristiano Ronaldo for the first two months of the season, even if the Portugal international does not move to Real Madrid, and may now have to cope without another forward. Ferguson insisted there was no chance Ronaldo, who is under contract until 2012, would depart for Real Madrid.
"The matter is closed now," Ferguson said. "He is a Manchester United player. It's finished. He'll be playing here next season, believe me. It's finished."
Real Madrid has made a strong push for the Portuguese star, who said publicly he would be interested in playing for the Spanish side.
Madrid may have stopped their pursuit. The club's president, Ramon Calderon, said on Tuesday that their signing of Dutch player Rafael van der Vaart was "the first and almost certainly the last signing we will make this season."
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson on Saturday warned his players that there will be no room for complacency in his squad this season. United won both the Premier League and Champions League last season but Ferguson now wants his squad to focus of the new campaign. And he warned that he will not be afraid to move players on if they are not showing the hunger he expects.
"If success has gone to anyone's head and they show signs they are ready to rest on their laurels, they will soon be on their way," he said. "Soon I will look into the eyes of my players to make sure they ave retained the hunger they need to succeed. Then we will look forward. "If I don't see the appetite and ambition, then the bus moves on without anyone who has lost the spark."
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Aon Corp (AOC.N), the world's largest insurance broker, has agreed a four-year deal to sponsor the shirts of English Premier League champions Manchester United from the start of the 2010-11 season. Manchester United will replace the three-letter logo of one American insurer, now emblazoned on players’ shirts, with the three-letter logo of another American insurer.
"We look forward to being closely aligned with the world leader in risk management, a firm which shares our values and is an exciting partner for Manchester United.
